"a firefly is forever/ and you know what my answer is"

This line is from LOML's favorite poet, Andrea Gibson, from their poem "Fight for Love". We both heart the shit out of this poem, not only because it is gorgeous and hilarious and deepAF, but because in many ways, it is "our" poem, one that serendipitously reflects so many elements of our journey as life partners.

Anyhow, last night, waiting for fireworks to start and trying to keep a gaggle of little humans busy until then, we caught (and released) fireflies. I had the kids make a wish before they separated their Solo cups to let the fireflies out "to take their wishes up to heaven." It's amazing what will get a four-year-old to focus and feel and smile.

But I couldn't believe it this morning, how I had missed such a blatant, luminescent sign from the Universe last night. All these little bugs-- in our faces, in our palms, between grass and air and space-- physical, cosmic reminders of how wild, mad, deep,and goddamn real this love is. How no matter the battle, it will be both of us up to bat, with and for each other. How even though she doesn't believe in a God, the fact that we found "home" in each other is proof that there IS some Great Force that joins souls, that helps us rise, resist, and love in the face of fight.

A Force that gives a tiny creature a big job: bringing a human heart to its knees.