Of inches and whispers...

It is of great surprise to those that know me now, but I didn't always like beer. In fact, I detested it. Till late in my uni days I was a scotch man. minimum 12 years, single malt preferred please. And neat thank you, although on the rocks was acceptable on a hot day.

The love affair with beer is something that crept up on me. First the occasional one at parties to be polite. Then later for a cold refresher in my soldiering days, it was slowly introduced into the rotation of drinks.

Nowadays, it is the drink of choice, and I have learnt over time the subtle differences of the different brews and where to find the rarities that I enjoy.

An acquired taste indeed.

So it is when I discussed with a friend her cynicism towards love at first sight.

A self confessed romantic, I had initially sought to convince them that perhaps it was perhaps a series of unfortunate events that had caused them to get jaded.

But as I collected my thoughts and memories to criticize the thorn and to counter the cynic, all I dug up was a mirror.

And the memories and words of my own flood back,

"love at first sight does exist... only in that we fall in love with what we build in our minds. If the other so happens to fit the mold then you get the happy ever after. But more often then not, the reality and complexity of the other will outgrow the pale imitation in our minds. Forcing us to either to accept that the dream was but a dream & move into the reality of acceptance and compromise, or the alternative of separate paths."

Teebird, only we who have flew on the wings of Icarus will understand and understand I do, but your path lies another ways now and the way back will be barred and guarded and for all the sympathy I have, You will not pass.


But I digress.

So what of love? That vaunted word, one that I admit having lost the meaning of and still seek?

I believe that love is grown, that like the tiny acorn it inches slowly upwards. That it needs to be cultivated with effort and patient kindness intentional or otherwise.

Rome was not built in a day, nor do oaks grow overnight.So always be careful as you walk in the gardens of your mind, you never know when you'll trip over the bricks of a new city or the roots of a new tree.