I Will Always Love You: A Love Letter

Everyone knows how much I love me some Whitney Houston and pretty much everyone love's her rendition of "I Will Always Love You." Dolly Parton did a wonderful job with the lyrics -- they are simple, to the point, and honest. It's an amazing song, but it's like the ultimate love letter.

Picture it:

Dear [insert name here]

"If I should stay, I would only be in your way. So, I'll go, but I know I'll think of you every step of the way.... I will always love you."

[your name here]

Ok, a break-up letter; but, still...talk about powerful, great impact, and effective.

#speechless

If You Love Someone...Will You Always?

Maybe...just a little bit? Honestly, it's hard to say. I know being "in love" doesn't mean eternal longevity.

Thanks to Facebook (FB) and Whitney Houston, my life is a social-media love song; filled with melody, rhyme, reason, endless resources, and surprisingly useful information and trends. FB has taught me that sometimes you have to let people go (unfriend); and Whitney has taught me how to do it...especially for those personal friendships/relationships that involves more than just the click of your mouse or a tap of your fingertip.

As people, we grow...we evolve...we (ok, most of us) change (hopefully, for the better). With this, the dynamics in our friendships and relationships with our friends, our lovers, and for some the relationships with former "persons of interest." Assess. Evaluate. Remove those connections that have deteriorated beyond repair and no longer hold value for your life....dead-weight-be-gone!  This is why I always say know the difference between "friends" and "friendly." You DO NOT have to be friends with someone to be friendly and being friendly DOES NOT mean you are friends.

When the time comes (and it definitely should come) to end a friendship or a relationship; take the high road and be nice and mature about it; respectful. Don't take the passive, lame, ignorant approach of not returning phone calls, suddenly being too busy (see my rant on the "busy" excuse) for someone...communicate. Lay the cards out on the table; let them know you are ending the friendship and relationship. You can provide a reason as to why if you want or if they ask, but in the least, effectively communicate that the friendship/relationship is over/complete/done wish/null and void/dissolved. Closure is invaluable; and all parties will appreciate and respect it.

Trust me when I say "it feels good." To let someone know your song is over and there will be no more dancing....priceless.

Yes, I leave you with this to help you find your way home....

Sing My Song: formerly known as "yet another 'untitled'"

UPDATED: 4/27/11

Normally, my work is inspired by events, happenings, and situations in my life -- okay, my love life...or lack thereof. This piece is no different; although, it does represent a time in the past. What essentially encouraged this poem to be "Penn'd" was an idea discussed via Twitter between me and two red-carpet-ready friends (whom shall remain nameless); BUT, I'll give you a hint: one is a "Child of God" and the other is a "YouTube DJ" (via Facebook). There was an original title, but now after the piece has been written; the original title doesn't seem to be as fitting.

I present to you...

SING MY SONG

Lovers, like friends
They come and they go
I remember the moment I met you
I know the moment I lost you
Now is the moment I should stop loving you


Baby I know I deserve a greater man
But there are things about being in love I’ve yet to understand
Crazy how I’ll get down on my knees and beg you, please
Baby please don’t leave
When it’s what I need you to do
For the day to come when I open my eyes and realize
You’re not that golden prize
Curse me for the halo I placed upon your head
Sacrificed my happiness for a love you wouldn’t give
Lost my soul just to see you smile
And to be in your presence, if only for a little while
Honey, why can’t I let go
When you want to be somewhere else
Why can’t I let go
When I need to free myself
Baby why
Why can’t I just let go
When your love
It will never grow
It will never show
And it's Your Love I’ll never know
I walk towards you; you pull away
I aim to kiss you; your eyes turn gray
And your lips say it’s not okay
Your stare looks straight through me
Your hands never touch my body
I try to protect you from the winter cold
But your feelings for me, boy I’ve never been told
You’re next to me; you’re everywhere I turn
You’ll give me nothing; I’ve come to learn
Your warmth is chilling; unnervingly
Empty-handedness doesn't work for me
Neither a rock I can run to
Nor a shoulder I can lean on
If you won’t be my angel; you won't be my hero
Someone tell me why
Why I'd rather die then let you go
I want you; I need you near
Don’t break my heart
Simply do your best; play your part
Talk to me
Tease me
Whisper
Sweetly
Gently...in my ear
Tell me baby...why you here?



Mad love, respect, and appreciation to those who provided comments and/or suggested titles. You made this difficult process enjoyable!

Let's Be Friends

WHAT IN THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN??? "Let's be friends" ... and is it followed by a question mark or a period? One can never tell. Personally, I wish people would forget the games and passiveness and just say what is on their minds. It's 2011 for crying out loud; can we all please man-up and get it together? Geesh.

Let's. Be. Friends. Those three words that are intended to imply that romantic interest is not present; at least, not for the party speaking the words. We all should be adults about our grown-up situations and take the bull by the horns; just let it be known that the present situation (whatever it may be) isn't working and each party should go their ways. Spare the friendship -ish, because you know you don't want to be friends, anyway; it's just not going to happen. Besides, have you ever asked one of your true friends if the two of you could be friends? (Pause...let that one marinate and percolate.) I didn't think so. That would be real strange, right? Someone you would designate as crazy and run as far and as fast away from as you possibly could. Remember this the next time you hear someone (special?) say, "Let's be friends." Run like the wind; they don't want to be friends and they don't know how to be friends.

I confess; I have heard the words before. So, I spoke from experience when I said "they don't actually want to be friends" and "they don't know how to be a friend." Yes, I have wasted a few valuable moments of my life on "friends" I should not have; which is why I am sharing this with you...ok, more like warning you. Don't make me have to come back and say "I told you so." You know I'll do it; nicely [grin], but I'll do it.

Now, the dispenser of these words is likely to be an intimate cohort. If the intimate situation isn't working out; the chances of a real friendship working out aren't that attractive, either. I think it's one thing if you're friends first, evolve into some sort of romantic situation, and then you realize the fire isn't there so you downgrade and return to being friends. That, could work...riiiiight? Better chance there a starting out higher (more than platonic) and downgrading. If you can't handle the original position you applied for; this company may not be for you. Go forward; not backwards.

Deborah Cox and R. L. sang about a similar situation in one of my favorite songs, "We Can't Be Friends." Deborah did her thang and kept it simple and to-the-point: "We can't be friends." She fell a little short, as she was still in love with her former Boo, but I give her props for taking charge and handling the situation. Hold up your hand, stop the presses, and put yourself first; spare yourself the drama and the pain.





With this video in mind, Deborah and I are pretty much alike...aside from the fact she can sing and I; well, I can entertain. The next time someone gives you these few words, stand up and tell them like it is Get missing! Keep it moving! And don't come back.

"Let's be friends" {question mark}
"Oh, hell to the no" {period; full stop}

Break-Ups: Things of the Past?

All good things must come to an end; true. This happens most with our relationships; personal relationships tend to end in crueler ways than professional relationships. Based upon how severely the ending of personal relationships can affect us, many never realize that how we separate ourselves from our relationships is key. Depending upon how the process is executed, it can make one wonder if it was ever actually good to start off with.

Breaking-up is hard to do...according to that old saying...but apparently it's not. People do it all the time: packing up and moving out while the "old ball and chain" is away from home, disappearing and ceasing communication, and the latest trend...updating the Facebook relationship status to "single" (alerting your friends before informing your partner). Prime examples that far too many people are stupid as hell and have lost their damn minds! Who does stuff like this? RAISE YOUR HAND! Who dates people like this? STAND UP! Who knows people like this? SHOUT! (I hope you can hear me cause I'm yelling like a banchee!) Where do we find these people? Can we please quarantine, keep them there, and forget about them? They can have each other! I know you're saying that's mean and cruel {Personally, I don't see a problem.}, but just imagine...world peace and harmony. {smile}

But, seriously, The Break-up...what happened it to? We're now in a world of "I just want to be friends," "we can use some space," "I'm seeing someone else," and "'Facebook User123abc' has changed their relationship status to 'single'" ... all via text, email, or the internet. WTH! I mean, seriously? Seriously! We have lost it as a people. We need to get it together, do better, and get right! As for the simpletons who aren't respectful enough to even communicate a break-up; as in, they disappear, ignore their [former] partner, or offer lame communication to the point where you get fed up and leave them to stew in their stupidity; they just need to be dipped in tar, feathered, and blessed by a higher deity...or poked and prodded by the lowest evil.

I know breaking-up is an Art and many lack talent, but can we at least exhibit some decency and tact? I know your mother taught you better than that. If you're bold enough to become romantically and/or intimately involved (yes, I did the and/or because you know some of you will admit to one and not the other {eye roll}) with someone, you should have the balls (or boobs) to sit down (face-to-face) with them and explain/discuss the break-up; at the very least inform them that the relationship is thereby dissolved.

A true and admirable break-up should be executed respectfully; with grace and tact. You need to convince your former Love to let you walk out the door on your own two feet, instead of stabbing you and having the authorities remove your remains in a body bag. I'm just saying...you do them right and they'll do you right (or do you in, but that's a chance one takes). Aim for that friendship clause; where you agree to be "friends" both knowing you truly never want to see, hear from, or think about the other again.

Just remember these two things:

1. Karma is the Queen B!#$h!
2. This only applies to civilized unions; if you have one of those violent, abusive, crazy, Ike and Tina Turner type relationships...do what you have to do and get the hell up out of there.