I love Gina. Actually, I’m ‘in’ love with Gina, more everyday, if that were possible.
You’d think this is a good thing, but according to some people, it’s something that needs to be moderated, analysed and perhaps even made illegal!
Deary, deary me.
Let me expand on this before you jump to any wild conclusions. A few years ago, an older couple who had an interest in buying our property, spent an evening wining and dining with us before returning to our home to continue the evening of discussion. After a round of laughter and jokes, the ‘lady’ of this couple suddenly, out of the blue, became serious and sounded agitated. The dialogue that followed was something like this;
‘You love Gina, don’t you?’
Yes, of course, I said.
‘You know that you need psychological help, don’t you?’
---Silence and wide eyed bemusement---
‘You are always holding her hand or trying to make sure she is looked after. She is a grown woman you know? You just can’t leave her alone, can you? You’re sick and need help.’
I explained (again) that Gina had recently come out of hospital and could barely stand up. She shouldn't have been out at all, but we made an exception for this couple. Of course I was keeping an eye on her to make sure she was alright, and, yes, we almost always held hands.
The ‘lady’ continued to insist I was mentally ill. Needless to say, the evening’s entertainments kind of ground to a halt and we soon parted ways.
A little extreme, I know, but not unique. Although, I am not normally told I am sick or need help. LOL! Over the years, I’ve lost count of the number of times that people, both men and women, have obviously objected to signs of affection that they see displayed in public. I don’t mean x-rated shenanigans in public, I mean a peck on the cheek, holding hands, looking lovingly at each other as they discuss which new item they want to buy for their home or even, what they want to order in a restaurant. If it’s a same sex couple, the looks are even more withering.
The looks of disgust I see being shot across a room to these couples always shocks me. If I ever catch that look aimed at us, I just look back at people like that with a look of curiosity. ‘Why?’, is the question in my eyes. We’ve even had people come up to us and say things like, ‘For god’s sake, get a room!’, or ‘Please, this IS a public place you know?!’ for the crime of holding hands, talking and making eye contact with each other! Jeez! Blimey, if it’s an elderly couple in love, we’ve even heard people say, ‘Grow up and grow out of it!’
I would like to point out that it’s obviously the minority who are like this. Most people either don’t notice such affection, or, if they do see it, they have a warm look on their faces, as if they are enjoying the moment too and are happy that others are in love.
We fall into this latter category too. We love to see others who are happy in their moments and wish many more for them too.
Wishing you many happy 'moments', dear reader of this blog.
I'm off now, to make sure Gina hasn't fallen down a hole, accidentally got herself stuck up the chimney, hasn't suddenly developed the black plague, or something else from my love driven paranoid fantasies.
I might even go and give her a peck on the cheek. I am, after all, a very, very, very sick man.
