The Lasts
Why Romance (continued)?
“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.”
—Carolyn Gold Heilbrun
A few months ago, I introduced three basic stages of romance: the firsts, the in-betweens, and the lasts. Today, we finish with THE LASTS.
Considering I haven’t lived the LASTS, I cannot speak as one who is experienced in that season of love. However, I have gratefully observed my parents, grandparents, my husband’s parents, his grandparents, and aunts and uncles on both sides of our families who have taken seriously their vows to stay with, no matter the circumstances, and love the ones they married.
My grandma Joan was known as the white-haired hurricane. She always had some project or activity keeping her busy until her early 80s, when dementia finally broke the energy of her beautiful storm. For a year and a half, she lay in bed, day and night, relying on my Grandpa Lyle’s care. During that time, my grandpa DID care for her with stalwart whole-hearted compassion and kindness. He loved her like one who has given his whole soul to another, my grandmother’s well-being and comfort towering above his own until his love’s storm fell calm only to spin with renewed vigor on the other side.
This is just one example of the tender LASTS I have witnessed. Another example is that of my parents (pictured below. Aren’t they the cutest?). I have seen their ups and downs; their good, bad, and ugly. AND yet … their love remains. It’s a love that has been clumsily by built upon a foundation of patience, selflessness, and commitment. They’d be lost without each other at this point.
The LASTS represent the sweetest, truest love that has endured time, hardship, and selfish flare-ups, while forgiveness, mutual respect, and commitment keep the LASTS within anyone’s reach.