flowers outside my downstairs neighbors’ window at the old house in Silverlake

It’s pretty easy to piss all over Valentine’s Day when your single, and given the current state of my own heart (immediate response: empty) this forum would be a perfect place to vent about the “Hallmark Holiday.”

Today I came to the realization that, despite my mental state of feeling horribly alone, Valentine’s Day should be a time of reflection that as human beings we are gifted with the ability to love and blessed with the opportunity to be loved. That’s has always been the bottom line for me in terms of the meaning of life. Seriously.

I thought about posting a song or a music video here, but instead here’s a link to an amazing essay by Ian McEwan on the subject of love. Actually the essay is more about 9-11 (and is written by an Atheist), but he makes some excellent points about love and the human condition that I found life-changing when I first read it.

Ian McEwan “Only Love and Then Oblivion”

“Love is God, motherfuckers. Love is God. Take care, goodnight.” - Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) ending his concert at the 930 Club (via NPR)