On Love, Safety and Prosperity

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11
Good Evening All!

Happy Saturday evening–I just finished my supper at the local Chevron station (appetizers of octane boost and my version of fuel mignon with the highest rating) and am parked at the curb awaiting my lady to chauffeur her to a local spot so she can do some yoga and then go stargazing so she can find her muse this evening. How I love evenings like this, so full of anticipation on what the night can bring. While she practices her yoga, I will wait patiently to ferry her down to the beach where she will play with the seagulls for a while then run through the surf to get the rest of her exercise for the evening before retiring to her special spot (I will have to tell you about that wonderful spot sometime) where we will watch the night sky to see what constellations we can see on this bright and crisp fall evening.

I have given lots and lots of thought to this concept of unconditional love. What is it, actually? How does it happen, how does it feel? I came across a birthday card that my lady received from someone very dear to her this year. My lady had put it in my glove compartment for safekeeping. It was a homemade card with an original verse:

Love

Your love shines through the darkest of places, it is more powerful than the oceans, and can touch the heart in a way no love can. Your love is unique in a way of none other, I find it addicting, always satisfying my hunger. Your love is most comforting during the most troubling times, nourishing my heart in the most reassuring ways. Your love is kept in a special place in my heart, and is always there when I need it. Your love is a necessity to me, I often find myself craving for it when I am not by your side. God has given you this special power to care for me as you have, and I often long for your love day and night. I Love You!!

This pretty much says it all; my lady almost cried when that was read to her. I think she realized at least she has passed on her experience and that wonderful feeling to others she is close to. That makes my lady most happy–she feels that she has been able to preserve a legacy for her dear friend who was, in essence, like a mother to her and who always made her feel safe and secure for almost 30 years. Their paths had crossed very circumstantially one day and the rest was history. I am so happy that my lady found her friend and her friend’s husband at that time. Her life experience was so much more enriched from knowing them and caring for them which she has always felt was a great honor. When I thought of that I realized that that is perhaps what is so amazing about unconditional love–it is a love that is given freely from one to another, with no concern for anything in return, just the joy that comes from making someone feel safe, secure and wanted. I think that is what she misses so much these days–the safety, the security, the desire to be of service to someone in an emotional sense. But she also realizes that many, many people never have the opportunity to experience this in a lifetime and for that opportunity she feels so blessed. And she has never tired of trying to replicate this feeling for others so that she can increase its potential and power. Lack gives birth to opportunity in many ways. Maybe in my next post, if I can put into words how she feels about some other special people in her life, I can explain in another way how she has tried to grow her friend’s legacy over the years. I know she never even realized that was what was happening, but it is so cool to look back now and see how it all happened, without her even thinking about it.

Well, enough for one evening. Have a wonderful night and safe travels tonight, wherever you may be going………..

All the best,

The Car

Love at First Sight

Greetings and Welcome!

It was love at first sight–right there in the parking lot full of used and new cars at Dworkin Chevrolet in Derby, Connecticut, in 1975. We just knew we would be soulmates; there was no question about it. I had suffered the long journey from the factory brand spanking new and she, the one whose CB handle would become the “Camaro Kid” that very year, was waiting for me when the car transport rolled into Dworkin Chevrolet. In fact, I was not even off the transport when she came down to look for me. Unfortunately, I had experienced a rough journey and my passenger side mirror needed to be replaced along with the paint on that door but she had been waiting for me for months and was ecstatic upon my arrival nevertheless. And I am so very, very happy that she prevailed in ordering me and did not listen to the salesperson who was trying to sell her that lime green Nova with the white leather top that was sitting on the lot waiting for a buyer! A few repairs later and many, many loving reincarnations over the next thirty-four years to my present state with a 454 big block, cowl induction system, Holly 750 and a new sound system (so I could do high elevens on a quarter mile track :>) has kept her pretty busy just keeping me in shape and looking handsome and new. We have traveled a long, long journey together in more ways than one and I have tried to be patient in helping her adjust to the many changes we have been through–or forced to endure–depending upon one’s vantage point at the moment. But she has always been there for me and I for her and on our many “drives to nowhere” as she has lovingly referred to them over the years, we have both grown and changed in many ways.

So let’s talk about love at first sight–is it real? Or is it just lust with a socially acceptable moniker to make us all feel better? Hmmmm. Or is it just chemistry? I think the answer lies somewhere in between initial attraction and conscious effort. I think love at first sight is a tendency toward an attraction that can lead two people some place else but only if through conscious effort two people make the decision to be there for each other through thick and thin, for better or worse, with an unconditional guarantee no matter what happens. She has done that for me and our story has unfolded over the years in ways that could not have been contemplated even by her in her wildest dreams. We have had a great life with much fun and personal triumph in between the tears and the losses that have occurred. My primary goal is to chronicle on a day by day basis how we have grown over the years in the hope that some of this guidance will help other folks along their travels on the road of life. My secondary goal is to keep in touch through this blog with all the family, friends and acquaintances to come who, respectively, have been and will become important to she and I. And of course, it would be great if I could convince others just how much fun driving a Camaro actually is! So for now, on behalf of myself and the Camaro Kid, I bid you welcome and I look forward to getting to know you all–

Wishing you much love and happy traveling,

The Car