No reason for Nicola to be unnerved.

It's time to celebrate. Ruaridh MacAlister has found true love. And if there's a wedding soon, I want to be invited. I'll travel all the way to Edinburgh, if necessary. That's where I met Ruaridh two years ago. And this is what I wrote in my blog about Ruaridh on May 5, 2009:

I'm a lover. And so is Ruaridh MacAlister, a Scotsman. But we're different kinds of lovers. I can love only one woman at a time. Ruaridh plays the field. Picture Ruaridh walking down the street. A woman on each arm. And maybe a woman traipsing behind. Ruaridh draws women from all around. Every woman is a conquest. He's a Don Juan, so to speak. He doesn't hesitate to tell a woman, "You're beautiful." And he reels them in. Right and left. And he makes love. Physical love. It's genuine. But very physical. And there's something to be said for that. But I like a love that runs far, far more deeper. Into the spirit. Into the soul. Focused on one. Not on the many. And love-making takes a long, long time. Getting to know someone. One. Ever so gradually. I understand where Ruaridh is coming from. That's his way. Right for him. Makes him feel like a true lover. But I couldn't handle Ruaridh's way. I need my own way. I'm a one-woman man. Always have been. Always will be. Ruaridh can make a conquest in a few days. Maybe overnight. I can't. I won't. Once thought all I would have was one love in a lifetime. That would be sufficient. But now, maybe it's two. Yes, two in a lifetime. Because I never want to give up on love. I never want to retire from love. I want to love forever. Or for as long as I'm alive and able. But only one love at a time.

Yesterday, I received this wonderful word from Ruaridh:

Hi Jim,

Ruaridh here. You will be pleased to hear that I have found the woman of my dreams and I am extremely happy. It's now one year in and I'm engaged and genuinley over the moon. We are both very happy. Nicola my partner is slightly un-nerved by your blogg that keeps appearing on google when my name is searched, thought you might want to put a good word in for me.

Kindest regards,
Ruaridh

Yes, folks, Rudy (his nickname) has seen the light. Has found true love. He's become a true lover. I have no doubt about it. No reason for Nicola to be unnerved. She's found the best. And so has he. --Jim Broede

All I need to make a good life.

I'm up and at 'em today. Haven't decided exactly what to do. No set plan. I don't even bother thinking two minutes ahead. I like taking life that way. I know what I'm doing. Seated at my computer. Writing. And noticing that my favorite cat, Loverboy, is with me. Perched in the letter basket. Atop my printer. He's looking out the south window. His eyes half shut. A sign that he might doze off. It's a still, calm day. No breeze whatsoever. The sun breaking through a hazy sky. Nice temperature. Comfortable. My desk is a clutter. I'm gonna clean if off. Soon. I don't want clutter today. There's a cobweb, too, on the window screen. I'll take care of it. A thought just came to mind. A memory. From yesterday. When two young deer wandered into the yard. They browsed. Stayed for 15 or 20 minutes. And that made my day. Makes my present moment, too. Just thinking about it. Shows that I'm capable of reliving a precious moment. A wonderful experience. Little things. That's all I need to make a good life. --Jim Broede

Sure beats waging war.

Think about it. Some 14 million unemployed. And no immediate prospects of things getting better. In part, because our politicians don't seem to give a damn. If they truly cared, something could be done. And it wouldn't cost any more than going to war. Yes, we Americans have almost limitless funds to spend on war. But paltry little for bringing jobs or relief to the unemployed. I blame 'em all. Republicans and Democrats. Maybe we're all at fault. As a society. As a nation. Yes, we don't give a damn. About people who are really hurting. Our priorities have gone awry. I'd spend $1 trillion, if necessary, to put everyone to work. Building a nicer America. Sure beats waging expensive and destructive wars. --Jim Broede

To remain oblivious forever.

I see nothing wrong with trying to understand myself. And what makes me tick. Because I suspect that's the first step in understanding other people. If I don't know me, how am I even gonna come close to knowing you? After all, I'm living inside me. I can see myself from within. If only I look. Probe. Dig. Analyze. That should be good training. Makes me a better psychoanalyst. I've always wanted to be a psychoanalyst. Not a professional one. Merely an amateur. That could be my hobby. I could scare people. By psychoanalyzing them. But maybe it wouldn't be a frightening experience. At least it isn't when I psychoanalyze myself. It's fun. And makes me feel good about myself. Doesn't surprise me that many people never get to know themselves. Don't know who or what they are. They go through life without any answers. But who knows? Maybe that's best. To remain oblivious forever. --Jim Broede

The important business.

Taking care of business. I like to do that. At my own pace. I have many things to do. But I like to proceed leisurely. Without putting a whole lot of pressure on myself. Doing it when I'm good and ready. I set priorities. Because if I did everything on my list, I'd be overwhelmed. Just the lingering thought of it would scare me. So I don't think about it for more than a few minutes at a time. I get on with other things. Such as neglect. There's only one thing I don't neglect. And that's my true love. I give her limitless attention. Whatever she needs. Because I like to. It's fun. Makes me feel good. And cultivates my image as a romantic idealist. Also gives me a sense that I've really taken care of business. The important business. --Jim Broede

Just my guess.

Ain't love wonderful? That's the question I posed today on the Alzheimer's message boards. In a thread posted by a guy who is in love with his wife. Despite Alzheimer's. It's his second marriage. And she was diagnosed only four months after their wedding nuptials. And he says he'd marry her again and again and again. No regrets. The guy speculated that men are more likely to take his position than women. But I'm not so sure about that. I suspect women are more likely to stick with their man. Than men are likely to stick with their woman. But maybe women would do it more out of a sense of obligation than love. Just my guess. I have no proof of it. --Jim Broede

Despite it all, I'm happy.

I have moments of unhappiness. When I think of politics. And the hateful nature of politics. Especially American-style politics. Although the political game can be depressing all over the world. But I'm closest to American politics. Because I live in America. Most of the time. But less and less as I get older. Because I have the opportunity to travel. And to live in Italy. Where politics also can be very rancorous. Corrupt. Mean-spirited. Again, that's just the way it is. And I more or less have to accept life as it is. And I've learned to do that. With only momentary unhappiness. Because I remind myself that unhappiness is funny. And I start laughing. And that makes me happy again. Maybe politics is the worst game ever invented by human beings. And that's ironic. Because politics tend to be cruel and inhumane. It's the darker side of human nature. And often leads to skirmishes. And war. Nothing much worse than war. Because it results in needless death. And in the end, makes us less than human. But still, despite it all, I'm happy. Because I'm able to recognize the plight of the human condition. And still fall in love. With life. --Jim Broede