On the flight back home Saturday, I was having a conversation with my seat neighbor. Her and her boyfriend were headed to the city for a two day getaway. They had never been here before, so I was giving her a few ideas of some things they may enjoy downtown where they planned to stay.
At some point I noticed that there was no ring on her finger. Assuming that her boyfriend hadn’t popped the question yet, I mentioned a nice romantic place downtown. I normally don’t admit to others that I like romance, but I must admit that it was fun to live vicariously through her for a moment.
My son overheard me say “romance” and turned to me and asked, “Mom, what is romance?” I looked over at my seat neighbor and then straight ahead for what seemed like an hour, trying to figure out how to explain that. “It’s when a husband and wife hug each other”. That was cheesy answer number one. Knowing that answer wouldn’t do the trick I said, “It’s when two people are at dinner with candles lit on the table.” That was cheesy answer number two. That’s all I could come up with. I shook my head at myself, turned to the girl next to me and asked her how a person would explain romance.
What is romance? It’s an action, but it’s also an emotion. I believe it’s mainly an emotion that’s caused by an action. I’ve not experienced a great deal of romance in my life, so perhaps that is why it is so difficult for me to explain it. Is going to the movies and dinner romance? I don’t think so. To me, romance would be spreading a blanket out under a tree and laying there with my significant other while we gaze at the stars above. Or, pushing off from the shore in a kayak during sunset and then spending hours on the water, just the two of us. To me, that is romance.
Just as most women, I am a romantic. I just don’t like to admit it. In fact, most people who know me probably think that I am the exact opposite. It is difficult for me to show affection to others, because it requires me to let down my barriers. Then as a result, I am left very vulnerable. That is frightening for me and therefore rarely happens. It takes a special person and a great deal of trust, for me to allow myself to open up in that way.
“Mom, what is romance?” – Such a simple question, but so difficult to answer.
Me - Who am I? 
You know what I find romantic? When my husband washes the dishes after dinner. š Seriously, I’m easy to please.
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That’s great. Simple can sometimes be the best of all.
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I’m with April. What I find romantic is the Garden Gnome doing the washing or helping me take my sewing machine to the car. Even just buying me a treat from the local bakery because he was going past and thought I’d like one. All pretty normal stuff. We don’t do the candlelight and flowers stuff š
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I agree with that. It’s the simple gestures of doing something just because, that mean the most. To have someone think of you outside of holidays, birthdays, etc, is a true expression of their love and appreciation.
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When I’m cooking and my husband comes up behind me and kisses my neck. Or when I think he’s just going to hug me, but our lingering embrace turns into s slow dance because neither of us wants to let go.
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That is one of the sweetest things I’ve heard in a long time. There is nothing like a good slow dance with the person you love.
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