I Love You

For the new-word hungry among us the word today is: Locum Tenens. It means a substitute.

Merriam-Webster and I have had a long and satisfactory relationship. I have never disagreed with him. His simple definition of love is: a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person, attraction that includes sexual desire, the strong affection felt by individuals who have a romantic relationship, a person you love in a romantic way.

The love of my life, my wife and best friend, and I tell one another we love each other frequently. I call her ‘Heart. It is a truncation for sweetheart. Whenever, we leave one another’s presence to go somewhere and then re-meet later we give one another a reward, a kiss, and tell each other, “I love you.” And, a similar greeting upon our next meeting. A reward in the mornings before breakfast, and before retiring with additional miscellaneous. Life is fragile and can end in a moment. The thought of her love for me would be with me at the end as it would be for her.

For some reason which I cannot explain, I find the phrase, “I love you” inadequate when I say it to her. I realize love is a truncation of all Merriam’s, my friend’s, definitions in their simplest of terms. But it still needs additional words which I add when she leaves, “Be safe.”

So, the question to be answered is: what word or short phrase other than “I love you, be safe” could be used to show the deepest of devotion, respect and supreme sacrifice I would make for her benefit? For my love for her has no bounds.

We all need a little help now and then. What I would like to have is a locum tenens. Any brief suggestions instead of “I love you” will be welcomed. I do not require the lengthy soliloquy given by Cyrano under Roxanne’s balcony on behalf of one of her admirers.

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