When was the last time you fell in love? When was the first time? Gosh, I think the first time was with David Conn in second grade at Summit Park Elementary in Pikesville (I’ve told him this, so it’s ok to be public about it). And then there were SO MANY boys I don’t even want to write it out.
It didn’t really matter if they fell in love with me (well, at the time it did!), the act of opening my heart put me at risk of it getting crushed, but something in me kept at it, time after time after time! I let my heart flutter with love and adventure and it expanded a little bit more until it was so expansive I felt I could love the whole world.
I used to practice “I love you’s”. I would silently say I love you to everyone I passed by. It worked great on airplanes, as each person walked down the aisle, I would try to catch their eye and send them a message that they were loved. I haven’t thought about this practice for a while (I’ll have to get back to it).
I’m thinking about this today because my 12th wedding anniversary is on Monday, September 26. I was 45 years old when a handsome, tall, blue-eyed stranger walked into my bookstore, Breathe Books (Dec. 6, 2008, at around 1 pm). In rapid order, I learned he was brilliant (former NASA rocket scientist), he was (secretly) into all things metaphysical, he just came back from visiting crop circles in England, and he seemed to be really into me. And he was 41.
My thoughts? He’s too good-looking. Too tall. Too young. Too too too. Too what?? Too much of all that for me? Apparently, I was too too too of many things myself for him! We put all that together and came up with a spectacular plan to be together forever.
So here we are. I’m 59. He, Larry Bohlen, is 55. We are moving further into mid-life together and love finds a way to change, deepen, delight and surprise me.
I am in love now all the time. With Larry. Our life. my dogs Ella and Joonie. With the tulip poplars and walnut trees. With Carolina wrens, the blue jays, and the goldfinches. With my peace lilies and plants I don’t even know the names of. Friends and family. With writing fiction and new books. With moments like sitting across from friends IRL, having a meal, or a coffee. Once the heart has been blown open, it’s easy to love just about everything. Just about — but we won’t go there. So really, almost everything!
Tell me what you love. Open my heart even more. And maybe yours too.
So, that’s what was on my mind when I began this newsletter today. I was really writing to tell you about a few things coming up, but my mind wandered. You can see those details below.
xoxo,
Susan
p.s. I’m working on a new book called The Beginner's Guide to Ayurvedic Home Remedies: Ancient Healing for Modern Life. I’ll have pre-sale news soon, but it’s scheduled for release in July 2023.
My heart has been blown open! I love you. ❤️
xo