testament to love

Today I was thoroughly moved and inspired when I saw this painting. I have blacked out the artist's signature because he is someone that I know.

I can't say that I know him well, but I went out with him one summer many years ago, at a time when I wasn't very careful with other people's feelings. I was young and didn't spend a lot of time getting to know people. And I certainly didn't appreciate the benefits of "going deep" with someone.

Christ, I knew him so little I didn't even know he liked to paint. Now he's a successful artist. He was very nice to me, fun, and funnier yet, and he goes down in my books as the best kisser ever. He'd be tickled to know that. But I never knew how deep he was. Never knew he had it in him.

His words in this painting are precious and perfectly crafted from a heart that knows true love. Or at least dreams of it. The words are not written about me, of course, but they couldn't be any closer to my heart. They are words I would love to have said about me. They are a testament to the kind of love I seek.