How often do you tell your loved ones that they are loved?
On a sliding scale, I think the most romantic medium are (with 1 being most lovely):
- In person – the most romantic. A bonus if it’s with eye contact too, not as you’re picking breakfast cereal off your top and your partner is sailing out the door.
- Post – delightful. I adore paper. Send me anything by post and it immediately gets Bonus Points for effort.
- Telephone (talking) – still quite romantic. Not sure where Skype falls in this list. Maybe between 2 and 3, depending on your connection speed and quality of web cam. “What?? What?? I can’t hear you. Why is the video so fuzzy?” is a mood-killer.
- Email. Well, I guess it’s sort of like a letter, so depending on the content it can be romantic. It’s not romantic if it ends in the request for an urgent cash transfer in US dollars.
- Telephone (texting). See story below.
Last week, I was out and about in town, hanging with the hipsters. Browsing through displays of vintage glass bottles; admiring photographs of artist with their heads covered in shaving foam etc.
It was sunny. I was happy. In this general spirit of well-being and happiness, I sent husband a text: “I love you. Lots.”
A few minutes later, he called back: “Are you OK?”
I paused. “Er, yes. I’m OK. Hi.” (Puzzlement.)
Husband: “I got your text. Thanks. Just checking that you’re not um …” (Uncomfortable pause.)
Me: “What?”
Husband: “Are you OK?”
Me: “Yes… I’m not standing on a cliff about to throw myself in to the sea! I was just sending you a lovely text!”
Husband: “Right. OK then.”
So that’s how it is in our relationship. I love you = Cry for help. Just to be clear, the next time I said “I love you” I added “but I’m not going to kill myself.”
A life less digital 