Joined

loving is easy when you are young and beautiful
passion and emotions run through you like liquid fire
helping the highs reach pinnacles never dreamed
and the lows seem like an abyss of darkness

somehow just being intensely in love
carries you both forward on its own momentum
and it pushes you forward toward ecstasy
but joining your life with another is not only about the fire
the fire just helps keep you connected like a dowel
when otherwise logical people might pull away

recently, i have learned so much about true love
it's the sharing, the compromise, the sacrifice
it's wanting and needing that special someone to be happy, peaceful and content
or it's impossible to enjoy yourself
it's the knowledge that you only need to look forward

because he or she always has your back
and it's the intimacy you share
when you can stand before each other without guile
and acknowledge, Ne, shout your feelings
secure that the greater pain is in the silence

as you both prepare for a life joined together
travel light
remember to let go of the burden of past disappointments
know that joy is not a weight but an emotion that lifts the spirits
you will never be sorry for always giving each other the benefit of the doubt
but the pain of blaming each other can divide over time
remember that true love is whatever you each need it to be
it cannot be defined by friends and family or books
it is in your hearts waiting for your lives together to truly begin
so it can reveal itself in all its wonderful complexity

try to avoid comparing your love to anyone or anything else,
it is beautiful, special, and one of a kind,
like each of you individually
and the two of you collectively
live in the present and the future
use the past only to learn from and then let it's burdens blow away
like the winds of change

most importantly, keep the power of your love within the circle of the two of you
don't let well meaning and not so well meaning friends and family
define what you want your lives together to be
your lives are a clean slate,
you will always grow and evolve
try to not leave each other behind - "if you go we all go" - fireman's mantra
remember the most beautiful words are not always, i love you
but sometimes, i am sorry, or i forgive you, or i need you.

for mike and jessica -