Love is not a fantasy.

Lately I have been encountering people that say they don't believe in true love. I believe that their idea of love is just twisted beyond the realm of reality with too many expectations being places on one concept. To me love isn't as simple as the fantasies that we had growing up. No happily ever afters. No princes and damsels in distress. Nor are they the fantasies that we have now as adults. Love does not conquer all. There will always be hard times and arguments. Many moments that will make you question your feelings and test the strength of your relationship. Passion will definitely fade but the tenderness and affection will hopefully last.
That is exactly what romantic love is. Forming a close bond with someone and working to maintain it.
It isn't the "I will die without you." love that we see in Hollywood or read about in stories, but is more like knowing that life is just so much better with them by your side since they make you so happy.
Love is giving someone the ability to hurt you and trusting that they will never purposely cause you pain.
Love is being able to argue and fight knowing that you will make-up in the end.
Love is being able to forgive when the other causes you sorrow unintentionally.
Love is seeing each other's flaws and accepting them knowing that no one is perfect.
Love is being able to share all your sadness and all your happiness, your dreams along with your fears.
Love is wanting to bring joy to the person you adore and showing that you care about them.
And lastly, love is being able to stay committed to making the relationship work, no matter how difficult it may be or how many distractions lie in your path.
That is why when people ask me if I believe in love I always say yes. I refuse to believe that it doesn't exist. I know that it isn't easy and it won't always be what I expect but with the right person I think it is worth all the effort that is needed for a relationship.

Surprises

Wow. I miss him so much. This weekend I barely got to see my boyfriend but what little time I did spend with him was awesome. I walked around with him at work on Saturday and he stayed over afterwards at my place for the night which was very fun. =) The next day he had to go see his parents after work to have dinner with them and also hunt down one of his friends to have a talk. Afterwards though he did the sweetest thing ever. He had to go hunting for balloons and a present for his younger brother's birthday and I stayed on the phone with him the whole time he was out. I had no clue though that he was planning on surprising me. He kept asking me questions like "What are you doing right now?" and "Will you be going to sleep soon?". I had a suspicion he was buying me something though after he asked me if I liked peppermint since one of my favorite things to do during the holidays is to make hot coco and use a candy cane to stir the drink. I assumed that he would give them to me the next day when we saw each other since it was pretty late at night by this point and I though he would go home to get some sleep. Instead he drove all the way to my apartment without me realizing it and surprising me with the best present of all: himself. It was a great night. He handed me the candy canes and we snuggled in bed to sleep since we were both so tired by then. This morning when he took me out for lunch before he went back home I really did not want him to leave. I can't wait until next weekend when I can see him again since he always makes me so happy. ^_^

Beginnings

I have been very happy lately. A lot has happened this past summer and I keep forgetting to write about any of it when I am in front of my laptop. So much information that I really don't think I can write down any of it. Too many situations where "you just had to be there" and it all went by in a blur, so it will all just stay in my head for now.
The biggest thing that happened is that I am now going out with one of my very close friends. After hanging out all summer around the city, going on random road trips together, and me visiting him out in DeKalb so many times... he finally asked me out! He is such an awesome guy. He really makes me happy. The weekend that he finally asked me to be his girlfriend after seeing him all summer was one of the best weekends ever. We were eating dinner at CPK afterwards and I was being giddy the whole time.
So yeh, right now I am very content with how things are. The only down side is that since he goes to NIU, I can only see him during the weekends when he isn't working or busy with friends and homework. I don't mind though since I know he has important things that he needs to do and will need some space. He needs his time alone to see other people and get his work done so he can get through this semester. I just can't wait until winter break, when we can finally see each other more often and not be so stressed. It will be so much fun to spend the holidays with him.
The second big thing that happened is that I moved into a new apartment. So far I have been liking being on my own. The roommates I can do without but I will deal with it and just enjoy being on my own again.

Old is new again.

I just realized recently that I have missed out on so much back in high school when I was preoccupied with Gallery 37. I wouldn't change my high school experience at all if given the chance since they contained some of the best memories of my life, but I would have loved to have been there to be a part of all the memories that my old friends have been reminiscing about lately.
I feel so left out when they talk about all the fun times they have had that I never got to be there for. I was too wrapped up in art. I loved going to school for only 4 hours a day and then heading out at noon to go downtown to do what I enjoyed the most. I loved the feeling of having so much freedom. To explore the city or just getting lost in my own head being creative. I didn't feel like a student at all. During the 2 years in the program I have cooked many yummy things and created a lot of different art pieces that earned me money and an internship at a big advertisement agency. It allowed me to explore more of myself and helped me to finally decide what I wanted to do with my life. So no, I can never say that Gallery 37 was a bad decision for me.
The downside to being in school for half a day though is that I missed out on a major chunk of my friend's lives. I wasn't there when they were at their happiest or saddest. Missed out on all the problems. The late night talks and early morning giggles. The first loves and break-ups. Rolling down hills, beach outings, and picnics in the garden. I want all of it. I missed out on being a high-schooler and I can't ever go back. Hopefully my friends will allow me to live vicariously through them.
What brought all this up though is that we are having a little reunion of sorts this coming weekend. Our little clique is all getting together again for old times sake and hang out in the park near our old high school. It will be a lot of fun and it'll allow me to experience a bit of what I missed back in the day.