Love is All You Need

The month of February is turning out to be both heart-breaking and joyous.

First, the heart-breaking. My mother’s cousin lost her year-long battle with colon cancer last week. For someone whom the doctors gave only three to six months to live from the diagnosis, she put up a pretty good fight. And no matter how bad it got, she kept up her grace and good sense of humor. Thankfully, I was able to spend some time with her before she died.

Just this past Thanksgiving, my family and I were at her home, and I remarked at how good she looked. Honestly, she did. Although we knew she was sick and she had begun losing weight, her face still looked the same and she was busy supervising the food preparation. The ensuing weeks saw her become gaunt and tired and bed-ridden, but she still managed to give me dating advice and share stories about growing up with my mom.

For the new year, we exchanged gifts. I had made her a bracelet of dark cherry wood and Botswana agate beads, with Catholic saint medals attached. One was of Our Lady of Montserrat, which I had bought at the monastery and shrine during a trip to Spain last year. The other was of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which she kept in a jewelry box on her nightstand.

In return, I received a porcelain figurine of a monkey orchestra conductor in a white, baroque wig and yellow Louis XIV costume. She let me choose it from her curio cabinet. On Saturday, she will wear the bracelet for her funeral, and the cherished monkey conductor now rests atop my bookshelf.

On the happier side of the spectrum, the best couple I know is getting married in two weeks, and I have the privilege of being the maid of honor. Only for this couple would I don a bridesmaid dress sight unseen.

Scott and Randi met during our freshman year of high school. They were randomly assigned to sit next to each other in our World History class and the rest is, well, history. It’s insane to think that 16 years have gone by and – with the exception of a two-year hiatus – they’re still together.

When Randi was contemplating whether to get back together with Scott,  I remember asking her why. “He’s my best friend. I love him,” she said. And it was that simple. Through the years, they had created this thing, this bond between them. And I’m grateful to have been there to watch their journey.

So that’s February. In this month of red roses, candy hearts, and store-bought cards – in this space between heartache and elation – I’m reminded about what love really is, how it should be cherished, and how it’s expressed every day in the laughter, conversations, and quiet moments shared honestly and graciously.