I’vealwayshadstrongopinionsofhowloveshouldbeexpressedbutothershadtheirownwaysofshowingcare.
WhatI mostaboutvisitingmyboyfriend’sparentsistheloudtickoftheclockinthediningroomaswe ateourmeal.WithsolittleconversationIwasquickto hisfamilyascold.Whenwegotintothe togohomehisfathersuddenlyappeared. hebegantowashhisson’swindscreen.Icouldfeelhewasacaringmanthroughtheglass.
Ilearnedanotherlessonaboutloveafewyearslater.Myfatheroften meearlyinthemorning.“BuyXerox.It’sagoodsharpprice”hemightsaywhenIansweredthephone.Nopleasant orinquiryaboutmylifejustfinancialinstructions.Thismannerofhis meandweoftenquarreled.ButonedayIthoughtaboutmyfather’ssuccessinbusinessandrealizedthathisconcernformyfinancialsecuritylaybehindhis morningcalls.ThenexttimehecalledandtoldmetobuyastockI him.
WhenmysocialstylehasconflictedwiththatofmyfriendsI’veoftenfelt .ForexampleIalwaysreturnphonecalls andregularlycontactwithmyfriends.Iexpectthesamefromthem.Ihadonefriendwhorarelycalledansweringmymessageswithshorte-mails.Irushedtothe :Shewasn’tagoodfriend!Myanger astheholidaysapproached.ButthenshecametoagatheringI andhandedmeabeautifuldressIhadfalleninlovewithwhenwedidsomewindow-shoppingthepreviousmonth.Iwas atherthoughtfulnessandregretfulforhowI’dconsideredhertobe .ClearlyIneededtochangemyexpectationsoffriends.
FartoooftenIignoredtheir expressionseagerlyexpectingthemtodothingsinmy .OvertheyearshoweverI’velearnedto otherpersonslovesigns.