-
(music and applause)
-
(both) I knew exactly what love looked like.....in 7th grade.
-
Even though I hadn't met Love yet, if Love had wandered into my home room,
-
I would have recognized him at first glance. Love wore a hemp necklace.
-
I would have recognized her at first glance. Love wore a tight french braid.
-
Love played acoustic guitar and knew all my favorite "Beatles" songs.
-
Love wasn't afraid to ride the bus with me.
-
(both) And I knew....
-
I just must be searching the wrong class room.
-
Just must be checking the wrong hallway. She was there. I was sure of it.
-
If only I could find him...
-
(both) But when Love finally showed up,
-
she had a bowl cut,
-
he wore the same clothes every day for a week.
-
(Laugh)
-
Love hated the bus.
-
Love didn't know anything about "The Beatles."
-
(both) Instead,
-
Every time I tried to kiss love,
-
(both) our teeth got in the way!
-
Love became the reason I lied to my parents:
-
I'm going to.....Ben's house.
-
(Laugh)
-
Love had terrible rhythm on the dance floor, but made sure we never missed a slow song.
-
Love waited by the phone, because she knew if her father picked up, it would be:
-
-Hello?
-
(Hard frightened breathing)
-
-Hello?
-
(Hard frightened breathing)
-
-I guess they hung up.
-
(Laugh)
-
And Love grew
-
stretched, like a trampoline.
-
Love changed.
-
Love disappeared, slowly, like baby teeth, losing parts of me I though I needed.
-
Love vanished like an amateur magician--everyone could see the trap door but me.
-
Like a flat tire....There were other places I had planned on going,
-
(both) but my plans didn't matter.
-
Love stayed away for years.And when Love finally reappeared, I barely recognized him.
-
Love smelled different now, had darker eyes,
-
a broader back. Love came with freckles I didn't recognize,
-
new birthmarks, a softer voice.
-
Now there were new sleeping patterns,
-
new favorite books.
-
Love had songs that reminded him of someone else,
-
songs Love didn't like to listen to.
-
so did I.
-
But we found a bench that fit us perfectly,
-
we found jokes that make us laugh,
-
and now Love makes me fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies,
-
but Love will probably finish most of them for a midnight snack.
-
Love looks great in lingerie but still likes to wear her retainer.
-
Love is a terrible driver, but a great navigator.
-
Love knows where she's going, it just might taker her two hours longer than she planned.
-
Love is messier now,
-
not as simple.
-
Love uses the word "boobs" in front of my parents.
-
(Laugh)
-
Love chews too loud,
-
Love leaves the cap off the toothpaste.
-
Love uses smiley faces in her text messages,
-
and turns out,
-
Love shits.
-
(laugh)
-
But Love also cries, and Love will tell you you are beautiful,
-
and mean it,
-
over and over again.
-
"You are beautiful,"
-
when you first wake up.
-
"Your are beautiful."
-
when you've just been crying.
-
"You are beautiful."
-
when you don't want to hear it.
-
"You are beautiful."
-
when you don't believe it.
-
"You ARE beautiful.
-
when nobody else will tell you.
-
"YOU are beautiful."
-
Love still thinks....
-
You are beautiful.
-
But Love is not perfect, and will sometimes forget,
-
when you need to hear it most.
-
(both) You are beautiful.
-
Do not forget this.
-
Love is not who you were expecting. Love is not what you can predict.
-
Maybe Love is in New York City, already asleep. You are in California, Australia, wide awake.
-
Maybe Love is always in the wrong time zone.
-
Maybe Love is not ready for you. Maybe you are not ready for Love.
-
Maybe Love just isn't a marrying type.
-
Maybe the next time you see Love is twenty years after the divorce.
-
Love looks older now, but just as beautiful as you remember.
-
Maybe Love is only there for a month.
-
Maybe Love is there for every firework, every birthday party, every hospital visit...
-
Maybe Love stays...
-
Maybe Love can't...
-
(both) Maybe Love shouldn't.
-
Love arrives exactly when Love is supposed to, and Love leaves exactly when Love must.
-
When Love arrives, say,
-
(both) "Welcome. Make yourself comfortable."
-
If Love leaves, ask her to leave the door open behind her,
-
Turn off the music, listen to the quiet.
-
Whisper,
-
(both) "Thank you
-
for stopping by."
-
(Applause)
-
Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.
