My Real-life Hero

by Malena Lott

I'll admit I've always been in love with love. Crushes. First dates. First kisses. I love you's. What not to love about love, however fleeting? 

I've been blessed in real-life with a really romantic guy. When we met at the University of Oklahoma, he was shy and charming and I was really caught up in my social life - particularly all that my sorority had to offer. My heart had been broken many, many times, which is an unfortunate side effect of dating a lot and falling in love probably too easily. When Rod and I became an item at the end of my junior year in college, I wasn't ready to settle down, but I was hopeful. When two guys from my past called me for a 4th of July dates that summer, I was thrilled I could tell them that I was dating someone new - someone I really liked. 

We went to the Grand Canyon that summer and slept in a tent, something we haven't done since. But it was a great test of our relationship - all those hours in the car together and just us against the world. Would we fit? Could we last? 

This summer marks our fifteenth wedding anniversary. The good news is I'm still very in love with him, and we both work at keeping each other happy. He brings me little gifts. We write each other lovey text messages. We don't have a regular date night, though I'd love to start that, but we do treasure spending time away from our little darlings. 

In my writing, I do get a rich fantasy life. I do fall in love with my characters and get to experience whole new worlds with them. For anyone reading this, try writing a love story instead of having an affair. I think it will be more rewarding and less damaging. 

This Valentine's Day I'm wishing you all deep and lasting love, the kind that sweeps you off your feet, even for just a night - hopefully between the covers, too. And you can always get more of that great high of falling in love between the pages of a great book.