"Do you believe in Love at first sight?"

This week's ramble is another in a series of answering questions that readers ask me.

Do you have a question for me?

Love at first sight. Hmmm. That's a tall order. Let's begin by breaking it down, shall we?

First you got an L. Then an O. Then a V. Then… wait, that's breaking it down too small. Let's back up and try this again.

First: you've got Love. Then: "at first sight."

What do they both mean?

The definition of Love has been sought after by millions, even gazillions of poets, writers, philosophers, and lonely shmucks everywhere on this planet. It seems like everyone has his/her own interpretation of what Love means.

For my interpretation, I first turn to my trusty Merriam-Webster Dictionary (and if you don't have your own trusty Merriam-Webster Dictionary, why the hell not? Go out and get one!).

Love is defined as:

  • Strong affection
  • Warm attachment
  • Attraction based on sexual desire
  • A beloved person
  • A score of zero in tennis

A strong affection and a warm attachment are definitions I can see. But an attraction based on sexual desire? I suppose, for some people.

There are many young ladies whom I desire sexually (to put it mildly). Does that mean I love them?

No. I think Love is much more than sexual attraction. I don't think it should be based on sexual attraction either.

Just because you're humping like epileptic bunnies doesn't mean you're in Love. That just means that you're humping like epileptic bunnies.

Let's move onto the next definition: a beloved person. Hey, I thought you couldn't use the target word (or a derivative thereof) in its own definition! Isn't "beloved" a derivative of "love"?

A score of zero in tennis cracks me up. I've heard tennis players shout "love!" when someone has zero points. The funniest is when one of them shouts "four love!" Sounds like "For Love!" as if Cupid himself has dedicated the next ball being served.

Gee, that's kind of a scattered definition, ain't it? That's the last time I trust Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Bad dictionary, bad dictionary.

My interpretation of Love is this:

I can't tell you. I can only show you.

Love, to me, is an emotion so profound that words cannot accurately convey its meaning.

Okay, I know this sounds like a cop-out. But it's not. Really.

Actions speak louder than words. Therefore only through actions can one properly portray the feelings of Love.

It's easy for someone to say, "I love you." It's much harder to actually show it. And that's my point; that's why I can't tell you.

Now let's tackle the "at first sight" part of the question.

Taken literally, it's "at first sight," not "at first conversation" or "at first word."

That means that they very first time you lay eyes on the object of your affection, you feel such profound emotions that words fail to describe them.

I don't believe that's possible.

I believe that the first time you lay eyes on the object of your affection, you may think, "Gee, I wanna hump that person like an epileptic bunny." But I don't believe you'd throw yourself under a tank for that person.

And if you would, wow, you oughta run out and join the Peace Corps.

Lust or infatuation at first sight is more possible.

Love can only come after you've gotten to know that person a little better. Perhaps even after a conversation or two.

Love at first conversation is more believable to me.

A conversation or two isn't really enough to truly know someone, but I think it's possible to have some initial sparks of Love there. A few sparks of chemicals hop between you two along with some sprinkles of magic.

Maybe it's the pheromones, maybe it's the energies, maybe it's the magnetism; choose your favorite New Age theory.

I believe that after a close encounter (something more intimate then staring at each other across the room), Love can begin to blossom.

Problem is, "Love at first conversation" doesn't sound as romantic as "Love at first sight."

So taken literally, no, I don't believe in "Love at first sight."

But I do believe that Love can blossom with as little as a conversation.

. . .

Do you believe in love at first sight?