Modern Love

I figured it might as well get published somewhere.

(This version is edited slightly at the request of the NBN editors.)

(photo via pinterest)

Mother's Day Intervention

In case a few of you have forgotten to send you snail mail...

It's not too late to send her a Paperless Post! You only get a limited number of cards free of charge, but for those special occasions, it's my favorite e-card service.

To all you mothers out there -- I don't know how you do it. Happy early Mother's Day!

The Only Red Carpet Better Than the Oscars

The Met Gala. I know this is a little late, but I've kept this email in my inbox for the past week because it is that inspiring. I feel the need to share:

The Language of Lovers

"Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly." -- Rose Franken

It used to be my expectation that romance isn’t required and the language of love is one of settlement. It wasn’t because I’m bitter and crusty (you’re free to disagree), but it’s more because I’ve always been afraid of disappointment. If I don’t expect anything, if I never allow myself to hope for more, then I won’t ever get the feeling of a ten pound weight punching a hole out of the bottom of my gut. But for the sake of honesty, I did want it – the flirting, the courtship, sweetness, passion – all of it. I wanted the beautiful Audrey kiss in a New York alleyway, in my tailored trench, in the arms of a beautiful man, under the perfectly timed spring rain whose drops only made that fragile face glisten even more delicately.

I used to be one of those people who needed the “I love you” to feel secure. I needed to hear it; I needed it to be said to me, and sometimes, I would say it to the other person just so I could hear it back. It was never enough. I learned somewhere along the way “I love you” starts to mean something else and at the worst of times, nothing at all.

I learned “I love you” isn’t so valuable when I abuse it, and in the case of true intimacy, lovers use it sparingly.

I used to want “I love you” and “I miss you,” but what’s special about those phrases besides the very facts they state in so straightforward a manner? Billions of people in different places and different times have used those phrases and many to no avail, but how many people know what “the chocolate incident” is?

Or what “Max” means?

Or “little trees”?

Or “President of the United States”?

Or “telling you in my head?” I forget when Norman coined this little catchphrase, but it began because of the many instances I began a story with,

“Didn’t I tell you…?” (when I hadn’t)

“No, you told me in your head.”

 My lacking memory makes him laugh, and this, to me, is “I love you” in a language that only I understand.

These inside jokes aren’t purposed to be exclusionary, rather they create a language of familiarity between us (it’s the same way writers use repetition to establish intimacy with their readers); so that even when we’re in a crowded room, just one glance and we have our own world.

No one would believe me if I told you what a nut job Norman is (and I mean that in the most endearing way), but I love that. I love that I’m the only one who knows the extent of his quirks. It’s this intimacy that defines the love stronger than any straightforward “I love you,” and it’s not that we feel hampered from saying “I love you” to each other, but there are so many other ways we could say it, ways that say, “I don’t want to be generic. You’re too special for that. My love is too great for that.”

In the beginning, all lovers are sweet to each other, call each other “baby,” kiss, gush. But if this is the default state of our love for the rest of our lives, I’d get a cavity (and Lord knows I don’t need any more of those).  And of course there are passionate loves, the kinds that get made into bestselling novels and then silver screen flops, but it’s hard for those to make it to the end. Passion is a desirable element in the ideal relationship, but when it’s the foundation, it’s tiring and eventually, it isn’t enough. You realize later on, the truest lover is the one of humor rather than one of passion (although the two are not mutually exclusive). Silliness is the language of love.

So Norman, I hope you know I’ve already told you in my head, but I’ll say it again for your poor itty bitty ears:

 I love you – and happy anniversary.

(photos via pinterest)

On Looking Forward

"Obama: The US has killed Osama bin Laden."
"Ding Dong the Witch is Dead"
"OBL is dead, thank you men and women of the US Military."

My Twitter and Facebook feeds have exploded with the SAME EXACT thing, so I don't feel a need to be redundant, and there isn't much I can say in 140 characters that wouldn't be repetitive.

I understand the magnitude of this kind of success, and the celebration is well deserved. But now, we have to look ahead. Now, it's more important than ever to ask the right questions and to search for the answers, to be vigilant; for it was in our false security and confidence that 9/11 happened in the first place. Osama bin Laden's death is doubtlessly a large detriment to the Al-Qaeda organization, but that doesn't mean it will disappear.

What exactly does this mean for the future of Al-Qaeda?
How will we continue to carry out the war on terrorism? Do we know where we're going? Do we know what we're doing?
What will this do to the perception of American power in the world community? How will the Obama Administration handle the change?
"We will be relentless when it comes to the safety of our citizens." - President Obama during his address.
What will this mean for America's perception of itself?

What now?

(photo via NYT)

Happily Ever After

The most televised event EVER, and I MISSED it! As much as I love to be on top of things, I just could not get myself to be awake at 4 a.m., partially because I was up until four the night before, but I'll tell you all about that later. Anyways, I didn't really matter because the second I woke up, I googled "kate middleton wedding dress," and from then, it was only a matter of time before I probably knew more details about that wedding than the people who watched it live. I'm shameless (yay for Medill education!).

And yes, this will be a Kate+Will photo orgy. Don't say I didn't warn you.

A few things of note:

+ The official wedding program if you'd like to see it.

+ Photo 7 -- THE LITTLE GIRL

+ The Brits sure love their hats.

+ When did Alexander McQueen go all Grace Kelly on me?!

+ It couldn't have been more perfect. She couldn't have been more perfect.

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Their Royal Highnesses!

(photos via the world)

The Pie Song

Have you guys seen the movie Waitress? It's one of my favorites--not in the Martin Scorsese kind of way, but it's really sweet and surprisingly hilarious. There were many laugh-out-loud moments for me. (Maybe it's cause I wasn't expecting it?) Well, I watched it again cause I felt like it, and I forgot how much this movie makes me want to bake PIES every time I watch it. I don't actually have anything to bake a pie with, so I'll just post these pictures instead (oh, and they have really cute names):

Earl Murders Me Because I'm Having An Affair Pie

Marshmallow Mermaid Pie

I Can't Have No Affair Because It's Wrong And I Don't Want Earl To Kill Me Pie

Falling In Love Pie

A few other places to find recipes:

Lonely Chicago Pie

I Don't Want Earl's Baby Pie

Baby don't you cry,

Gonna make a pie,

Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle,

Baby don't be blue,

Gonna make for you,

Gonna make a pie with a heart in the middle,

Gonna be a pie from heaven above,

Gonna be filled with strawberry love,

Baby don't you cry,

Gonna make a pie,

Hold you forever in the middle of my heart.