Feeling the love

How often do you hear "I love you"? These days I do almost daily. At first it made me uncomfortable, but now it means lots.

These aren't romantic I love yous but rather friend ones. And they mean more to me at this point in my life. They're words to never use unless you mean them.

My family doesn't say those three words often. In fact, I can't remember ever hearing I love you from them. So, I don't say it either. 

Nothing brought the importance of love closer to home than what happened to a good friend early this morning. She was sitting on my sofa a little after midnight upset over the argument she just had with her boyfriend. She didn't trust him to stay away from his ex and confronted him with a smack in the face the night before - according to him at least. She had had too much to drink and doesn't remember doing it. They left last night's discussion with him deciding if they could even be friends anymore. She was desperate.

Then her parents' number popped up on her phone. That can never be good in the middle of the night. Her dad was gone. She was distraught. I texted her boyfriend to come over quick and he did. While she cried on the phone with her sister, he whispered that he felt like a jerk. I told him it didn't matter. Together we got her a plane ticket halfway across the country and helped her pack a bag. He got her to the airport for her pre-dawn flight so she could be with the family she loves.

And we love her too.

Some day I may be brave enough to say I love you to a lover and maybe even my family. I'll never say those words unless I mean them. Until then, I feel more comfortable saying I love you to my dear friends. And I mean them.

Love to the single girls,
Addison