Being at my sister Sarah’s wedding over the weekend has of course turned my thoughts in the direction of love. My other sister Hazel and I were talking, and both realised that not one of our friends has fallen in love recently. Not one! This is the summer and we should all be walking around in a heat haze, madly in love or lust with someone, surely? It’s a bad show people! Anyway, I thought I’d share the below quote which was used as a reading during the Humanist ceremony at Ballybeg House in Wicklow on Friday. Perhaps it will inspire us all.
‘Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.’
Excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
Alex Donald's Multiverse 
As much as I am a total cynic when it comes to love and romance and I totally believe that being in love is never worth all the heartache afterwards, that really was a very lovely reading. I wish your sis all the happiness in the world. X
I used to be a total cynic too but finally have realised that for me, the two most important things in life are love and work. They are what make life worth living and what you are remembered by. Finding true love is a whole other messy story!
Are you in love?
Unfortunately no, not at the moment!
awwww – what a lovely quote – such a great book. Where’s this summer of love – can’t think of anyone I know who’s been falling in love this summer – more of a winter sport it appears
Leonard Cohen is fond of quoting a rather lovely haiku on the subject. I’m paraphrasing, but it’s something like:
“Man and woman drinking tea
Your sorrow, my sorrow
Your joy, my joy.”
Louis de Berniere’s quote is a little too intense, too addictive, non-accepting of diversity, too hard on human nature – for me Loving and being loved is a universal need which, thank goodness, comes in many forms – not least when totally unexpected.