I kind of fell off the face of the blogging world for a few days there. Sucks, because I fully intended on participating in National Blog Posting Month — on November 2nd, when I remembered about it. Sucks, but there’s always next year, right?
I’ve been rather preoccupied with television lately. I’m usually not a TV person. I’ll set our DVR to record shows or the occasional movie that catches my interest, but I won’t get around to watching anything until weeks or months (yes, months) later. Case and point: this morning I finally got around to watching The Notebook. The DVR recorded it in August.
I really liked the movie, even though it was poignantly sweet and sad. I started tearing up towards the end, when Allie and Noah were having dinner together. When they were dancing and she suddenly forgot who she was and subsequently who Noah was, and was screaming and nurses came and Noah started crying, I seriously bawled. Dan was in the living room then and he was teary-eyed too. I can’t imagine what it would be like to know that the love of your life doesn’t know you, doesn’t have any recollection of who you are, the memories you created, the things you did together. It must be so heartbreaking. Alzheimer’s scares me. It’s a disease I hope to never get, and I hope to God Daniel doesn’t either. It’s one thing to break down physically as you get older. But to lose your mental faculties, your memory? No thank you.
But if that were to happen to Dan, or to me, we swore we’d be there for one another, as heartbreaking as it would be. That’s what love is about. It isn’t the novelty and infatuation that initially brings couples together. I remember and wax nostalgia over the initial thrill I felt when Dan and I were first together. Our first flirt, first date, first touch (ask Dan about the first time we rode the log flume together…), first kiss, etc. That initial “spark” is gone, but, and excuse the mushiness, that spark set the fire ablaze, and nine years and a handful of months later it still burns strong. We know each other so well. Daniel is my best friend, my lover, my soul mate. I go to him for everything. He has my back and I have his. No matter what may be going on between us, petty squabbles or stupid arguments over stuff that means nothing at the end of the day, I love him, he loves me, and we have each other and would fight to the death for one another — and for our children.
I love our relationship, how far we’ve come, what we’ve accomplished, and what we mean to one another. I love that we’re still so in love with one another. The passion is there, but our relationship is about so much more than sex. We’re intimate with one another in so many ways, far beyond sexual. We crave each other’s company, and just enjoy being in the same room with one another. Going shopping for groceries, running errands, laying in bed together, cuddled under the sheets watching Hell’s Kitchen or CSI (two other current obsessions of mine), running out for medicine or comfort food when the other is sick, just being with each other but not necessarily doing anything “exciting”, like the kinds of “exciting” things couples in the dating and early relationship stages do.
I love our love. ♥
awww
Alzheimer’s is definitely the scariest disease. I really hope they find a cure before we’re old.
Notebook is my fav move! I was like you, got teary eyed at the end. And yes, that is what you call real love and I wonder if I will ever find it? lol.
I volunteer at a nursing home with an Alzheimer’s ward. There is one gentleman who lives in the apartment section of the home, where it’s basically like your own home but with maid and laundry service. He moved in when his wife’s Alzheimer’s was getting into the advanced stages so he could be near her all the time. Every day when he wakes up he goes into the Alzheimer’s ward and sits with her, just holding her hand for hours. She doesn’t remember him. She introduces him to everyone as her “new good friend.” They have the same conversations every day. It’s absolutely heartbreaking. He cried when he told us about it. But that, that is true love. Alzheimer’s is something I care about. It’s genetic in my family, which does scare me. I try my best to ensure I do everything I can to keep my brain active and healthy. But if I do develop the disease, it comforts me to know that the love of my life would be with me, even if I don’t realize it.
Aw, that is so sweet. I’m glad you see it that way. It’s so sad that most people don’t see love that way anymore. I think that people should. And yes, there is always next year for NaBloPoMo!
I never seen it, I am gonna have to check it out. My sister in law watches that movie over and over again. Must be that good huh??
Oh I love Notebook. The end always makes my cry like a baby – and I don’t usually cry when I watch sad flicks. That one – oh dear – it is so emotional!
I think in a way it portrays love in a realistic manner – of course when you’re young it is all about infatuation, sex, and excitement, but in the end, it is about staying there til the end, about commitment, and a strong companionship. At least that’s the kind of love that I want. Haven’t found it yet, but hopefully I will – someday.
So, I agree with you, Jenn… Love is not about the “novelty and infatuation”.
I love The Notebook and always find myself in a pool of tears towards the end. Allie and Noah’s love was amazing and the story line? It was fantastic! I think they did an amazing job at making it as realistic as possible. Glad you were finally able to watch the movie.