True love. Twice now.

The thing is, I care. About things. About certain people. Friends. Acquaintances. And especially about my Italian true love. But so many things that I care about are totally out of my control. I can't affect the outcomes. So I have to learn acceptance. That was the case when my dear sweet wife Jeanne had Alzheimer's, and up and died. I had to learn acceptance and patience and love. In that sense, I affected Jeanne's life. In good ways. In bad ways, too, I suppose. Because I had to learn how to be a good and loving care-giver. Yes, a decent human being. Not sure that I've accomplished all that. That is, to my satisfaction. I could always be more decent and loving. Never doing enough. For instance, in the realm of politics. I could do a little more in trying to get Barack Obama elected. Because I think Obama is a good human being. And while Mitt Romney may be good and decent, too, I don't trust him. Makes me judgmental. So I'm gonna vote for Obama. Though I know that all my efforts won't really make a difference in the outcome. Other than it might give me a sense of satisfaction. For trying. For having gone with a tide that sweeps Obama into a second term. But also recognizing that maybe I'm swimming against the tide. Maybe Romney gets elected. And maybe some day there's World War III. Just as there was World War II and World War I. No stopping the natural course of human events. History. And I merely become the observer. Therefore, I have to learn to live my life accepting many things that unfold around me. Such as the death of my longtime, beloved wife. And ultimately, my own death. But there's still something nice about life. Good things happen. In the midst of everything. I have golden opportunities. To cultivate loving relationships. Right now. With my Italian true love. It's gonna be five years on Oct. 25 that we met. And now I'm living on an island in the Mediterranean Sea for about half the year. In Paradise, really. With my true love. And she stays with me for the part of summer. In Minnesota. Which makes me blessed. Doesn't even matter whether Romney becomes president and World War III unfolds. At least I've experienced true love. Twice now. --Jim Broede