I've struggled at love througout my life. Even now I still think of myself as a novice. I have to say that I have learned a few things since starting out. Alot of that has to be credited to many people in my life especially my Grandparents who were married for over half a century.

It's About Sacrifice
When I was about 15, my Grandfather had an aneurysm and ended up being paraplegic because it was on his heart and removing it damaged nearby tissue. For the next seven years of his life, my Grandmother gave up many of the activities she did just so that she could be near him. She got into the mobile age and got a pager and then a cell so that she could be in contact with him.

It's the Little Things
Shortly before my Grandfather lost his battle to his cancer, he went around and cleaned out his things so my Grandmother wouldn't have to. He also left her little notes throughout their home so that she would know how to do certain things that he always did like program the VCR for her favorite show.

It's Having Fun
My Grandparents had the greatest time together from the start until the end. They would joke around and do so many things together from watching Jeopardy and competing against the TV to cheering for the Braves back when nobody outside of Atlanta cheered for the Braves. They volunteered for causes together and took pride in what they did and in what the other was working on. THey just had fun in so many different ways throughout their lives.

It was upon reflecting on the other aspects of their relationship, that I realized how great a love they had between them and what love really was. Love is respect and support with so many other parts it's hard to even put in words... you just know it when you see it.

I grew wanting to find the one and be in the relationship forever and ever. I grew up looking at the world around me and saw the emphasis and thought I knew what the real importance of having someone there for you through thick and thin. Because of focusing on trying to find love, I failed to realize what really made love last and why that was beautiful. I also failed to take in the lessons from some of my greatest teachers. Lucky for me I have the memories to reflect on.