'tis a matter of the heart.

"You don't contain even an ounce of romance in you."

Romance. An oft-used word.
What does it mean? How is one :romantic:?
Does getting flowers and going on dates mean being romantic?
Does one have to dress up and look all pretty in order to be loved?

Maybe that's the case. And I'm okay with it.
I don't mind flowers.
Or dressing up for dates.
Or kisses.
Or any other romantic cliche out there.

I do watch romantic movies.
I teared up a little when I finished reading 'Love Story'.
To call me unromantic is kind of harsh, non?

Don't get me wrong; I'm open to the idea of romance.
But the funny thing about all this is:

It just isn't me.

I don't really like flowers. They wilt and rot.
Kissing? Forget about it. I find the idea of holding hands in public too awkward.
And I cannot get myself all dolled up and pretty for a guy.
Makeup is sticky and weird, and threading one's eyebrows is some ancient Chinese method of torture. I'm certain of it.

I'm me.
Strange, unromantic me.
Armed with a sharp tongue and sarcasm.
Full of opinions that I will defend with my life.

But does that mean I've never thought about what it feels like to be loved?
Love. That which goes beyond romance, and everything else.
I have wondered what finding love would be like.
What it would mean to have someone to treasure. Someone who thought of me as...precious. Significant.
And if I could find such a person by being myself.

Myself?
My weird, childish, unromantic self.

I believe in a love that encompasses any kind of romance.

I believe in a love so strong, it sticks around long after the romance is dead.
If I ever do fall in love, it certainly won't be short term.

This is me.
Weird, unromantic, I'll agree.

But capable of that crazy feeling called love.

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Note: The quote is something someone remarked about me, in the past week. I'm sure they didn't mean any harm, but that line really rustled my jimmies, man. So I got thinking, and stuff.

I never thought I was capable of writing such mushy stuff. Time to crawl under my rock and die of embarrassment.