A few weekends ago my girlfriend and I met for our Saturday morning hike along the Bill Kerr Trail; one of those excursions where you start off walking and talking and before you know it an hour has passed and it seems like you just began. Along the path we came to a clearing and noticed someone had fashioned a huge heart from fresh roses — likely the site of a lovely little wedding ceremony in the woods. You don't see this every day. I wanted to take a picture, but, of course, didn't bring my camera. Without hesitation, my peach of a hiking companion whipped out her smart phone and proceeded to climb the spectacular oak tree that stood above the makeshift heart. (Legendary, she informed me. The Chumash indians believed this very oak was sacred and held secrets to the afterlife.) What are you doing?" I asked, incredulously. "You can't really get a good picture unless you take it from above," she said.
I returned home and checked my email — she'd already sent me the photo. What a treasure! When I look it now, I think of my friend — heroically wobbling on a branch for me, lending an open ear when I have infinities to pour out, reinforcing the idea that I have great worth as a person on this planet — and conclude: THIS is love! Who's to say one's connection with — and admiration for — a good girlfriend (and vice-versa) isn't every bit as valuable as a the love of a woman for her man on her wedding day? Dare I say, maybe even more so!
