What is love?..........

 They had been married for half a century, raised three

children, escaped war and persecution yet....their love

for each other never once flickered or even weakened.

In his eyes she was still as beautiful and lovely as the day 

he first met her.

In her eyes he was was still as strapping and handsome

as the day she first met him.

Whatever trials or tribulations had come their way,

they faced them together ...... day by day.

With mist still hanging heavy in the early morning air,

he sips his coffee slowly leans back into his chair.

His thoughts all in a muddle, confused and in despair.

What will he have to do now, when she's no longer there.

She was his closest friend, there always by his side,

working hard beside him, his love, his joy, his pride.

She has to be replaced, this truth he can not hide,

 he needs someone just like her, so he really has to try.

He hops in to his truck and drives in to town,

though still heavy hearted and still feeling down.

Just a few hours later he is homeward bound,

in his lap a puppy, he has named Lilly Brown.

As the clock on the wall separates the past from the present,

she makes herself a cup of coffee and turns on the Television.

She flicks through the channels looking for something to watch

but nothing grabs her.

Lately she has been finding Friday nights tough.

They seem to drag on forever.

There was a time when she used to be doing things every

weekend, but since her best friend moved to London all

that seemed to have stopped.

She was really missing her friend. But what can she do?

Julie had finally got her promotion in London and

who was she to stand in her way.

Her thoughts wander back to the time when she first met

Julie. From the moment they had shared a desk in primary

school they had been inseparable. 

They told each other everything, they shared clothes, lunches,

make-up and sometimes....boys.

When Julie first told her that she was moving to London,

Lisa was devastated. For a time Lisa toyed with the

idea of moving to London as well, but she loves her job

and wasn't sure she would be able to find a

similar one in London.

At first they had talked on the phone every day but 

as weeks turned into month's there were less and less

phone calls. Ever since they met Lisa has viewed

Julie as a beloved sister, but lately, she wasn't so sure

about that.

She decides do perk herself up with some

pop-corn. Just as they are starting to pop in the microwave

the phone rings.

-Hello? 

-Hey, it's me.

-Julie?

-Of course, silly! I miss you so much! When can you

come to London? I've got a new place now and

it's got a spare room. Oh, please say that you'll come!!!

Please, please, please!!! Tomorrow?

-Tomorrow? You lunatic!! Well, okay. Text me the new

address and I'll catch the 10:00 o'clock to London.

-Excellent! See you tomorrow sister!

-Okay, sister.

Lisa threw her phone on the couch and ran in to

her bedroom. 

-What to bring, what to bring? she sang to herself.

Love had returned. Her best friend still loved her.

Love comes in many guises.

The above are but a few examples.

Love, as far as I can ascertain, contains a mix of variable

emotions. These emotions often motivate a number

of different behaviours.

Love, in my view, includes: resilience, patience, compassion, 

forgiveness, attention and a whole hearted commitment to

someone's or something's(animal/critter/bird etc.) wellbeing.

Love is: choosing your words wisely, being kind to animals,

being kind even when you're angry, offering a helping hand

to whosoever may need it, validate rather than judge, encourage

rather that criticize, etc. etc. etc.

about the image: acrylic on canvas

As part of learning how to paint the human form I used

 the wooden ''dolls'' art shops sell.

My challenge became how to paint these dolls showing

emotions.  I called them my ''Pinocchio paintings''.