You know how some images in your life are imprinted on your brain? Almost like a tattoo or brand, they can’t be washed off. Lately, I keep seeing my tiny 81 year old Gram holding hands with my six foot plus Life Hostage as they walked down this old cobblestone street. The reality was pretty much as adorable as it sounds.
He’s her guy. The entire time she was in PA visiting us I watched their relationship transition from her being Becky, my Gram, to her being simply Gram to him. What I later realized is that in that short time, I watched something real develop between them and that is pretty damn rare.
It got me thinking – we all are looking for something special – a person to have some connection with that is the fairy tale and lasts forever. Let’s be honest, many times it doesn’t last forever. And the fairy tale? Well, one can surmise that Cinderella is just another typical drunk girl who walked right out of her shoes after dropping it like its hot too many times.
Wouldn’t it be far more realistic and wiser to look for something that is real, even if it is as rare as The Loch Ness Monster?
Laying on the couch the other night, my Life Hostage let out a night long belch, followed up by a loud fart. He started giggling like a little kid. I raised my eyebrows at him.
“What? Doesn’t it make you happy that I’m so comfortable that I can bust ass in front of you?”
It sorta sounded sweet. Although I’m not quite sure I really necessarily need that level of comfort in my life. But looking beyond the bodily functions, I appreciated the sentiment. This is real.
As I’ve gotten older (and wiser), I’ve realized how much more I appreciate real. The reality is the older you get the less you start giving a damn about anything that is surface.
Real is rare, real is a diamond. When I did a quick search of the Google, I found this campaign slogan. As a marketer, I value the genius in that.
But real is more than a piece of jewelry, its truth in everything. I don’t need someone to tell me I’m beautiful all day, every day. I need someone to tell me when I have cilantro in my teeth. I don’t need someone to order me another drink. I need someone to tell me you better switch to water because I’m not holding you while the bed spins. I don’t need someone to tell me my butt looks good in a pair of pants. I need them to tell me I sat in gum.
The Loch Ness Monster is rare. Flawless diamonds are rare. Real is rare, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
