I have been in love since September 1978.

I was ten years old and fell head over heels for Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) in “Battlestar Galactica.”  It was a love to last a lifetime – which anyone close to me can attest to.  Even today, a quick glance around my desk will confirm the accuracy with a view of the vintage Starbuck action figure, a newfangled Starbuck doll, two “A-Team” Templeton Peck figures (one encased due to some terrible guy named Matt who burnt his face on New Years Eve 1989) and one of my many prized possessions from the Universal era, an A-Team license plate.  Looking at them for even just a brief moment can make my heart skip a beat or put a childish smile on my face.

Actually, I can’t remember a day since September 1978 that I haven’t been in love.  I figured out at an early age that being in love feels amazing.  It’s excitingly up and down the emotional scale; and, in the snap of a finger can make you feel lighthearted, energetic and young at heart.  Beside the fact that it surely beats being heartbroken, it also outpaces the mediocre-ness that can creep into daily life and just make things “blah.”  And, maybe staying in love is why I mostly keep a positive attitude, no matter what misfortune comes my way.

Contrary to some beliefs, you don’t necessarily have to be in a relationship to be in love.  There is a hard and fast difference between being in love and loving someone.  When you love someone, that is 100% without condition, judgment or fault.  If you have been lucky enough to share this kind of love in your life, you are not only fortunate, but fulfilled.  And, I am pleased to say, I have never had a day where I didn’t feel loved or loved someone back.  But, that’s different than what I’m categorizing as being “in love.”

Being “in love” usually teeters on the edge of passion and obsession.  It’s a racing heartbeat, butterflies in your stomach, woozy head kind of feeling.  Something you have no control over at it’s start…after all, you “fall” into it.  And, then once you are in the fire-pit, you can choose to feed the flames or put it out.

I’m a flame-feeder, obviously.  I absolutely love being in love.  The giddiness is exhilarating.  When all else seems to be collapsing around you, you can just step off the cliff into your blissful “I’m in love” fantasy world and suddenly, things don’t seem so bad.

I think everyone should fall in love with any object of affection that fascinates them, as often as possible…the girl that works on the 3^rd floor you sometimes see in the elevator, the UPS guy that stops by with your Amazon deliveries or even a television character you can visit every Tuesday night on ABC from 9-10pm.  You will be amazed how much better your day can be.  Maybe people would be in a better mood overall if they tried to be in love.  Maybe they’d even be nicer to each other?  After all, being under the spell of this kind of love prevents the rose colored glasses from coming off.  Things look better.  People are seen in a different light.  Situations don’t seem hopeless, they actually seem hopeful.

Besides the many objects of my affection in the movies and on television (I have a Top 12 on my computer desktop); it takes a lot to have me fall out of love with anyone that has come into my life on that level.  Truly, unless you ended up being just a really dreadful boyfriend (and, I’m pretty patient, so there was really just one of those); I am still, somewhat, in love with you.  Maybe not who you are today but who you were then.  I can think back to the night of our first date, the time I ran into you at the Bengals game, the treasured gift you gave me (which I still have), or our tearful goodbye at the airport.  Those moments were so significant then.  There is no doubt they became part of the core of who I am.  Happily, I hold onto each and every one of those glorious memories and the feelings that came with them.  I still look for and blow an occasional kiss when I pass the house where Alex used to live in high school.  When random songs come on the radio, I fondly recall being tested on music performers and blurt out my answer, just like Jason is sitting next to me listening.  When someone mentions surviving a long-distance relationship or posts about a California college, I can’t help but wonder what Steve is up to now.  Yes, I will always be a little in love with you all.

And, when there isn’t any key romantic figure in my life at the moment, I’ve always been able to find some charming fixation to fill the void.  From Dirk to C. Thomas to Colin to Chris.  Yes, I can appear a bit over-enthusiastic.  And, I certainly can attest that there are more than a few acquaintances that have looked at my “obsessions” as a bit crazy or fanatical.  But, on the other side of the spectrum are friends of mine that not only feed my mania but revel in the fun of it all.  Because, I assure you (and I’m sure they can too), it is a lot of fun.

It’s all about keeping that youthful feeling of being frivolous and flighty and surprised.  Like you just stepped out of a real life John Hughes movie; pretending and playing it through in your fantasy world where you are entwined with your own Jake Ryan or Tad Hamilton.  Yes, it’s a silly naïve notion that only you can experience; but, those kind of imaginings are certainly more entertaining and light-hearted than looking at what’s happening in the real world.

And, so, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I pay homage to all of the gentlemen I have fallen in love with, in real life and media life; and, show appreciation to all the friends that have supplied me with cell numbers/home addresses, gone along on dedicated travels, sent along specific spottings, played made up games; and, just helped keep the flames of being in love alive.  I think it has made me a happier person than most in the world.  And, I plan to be in love as long as life lets me.  #50WeeksTo50