Love: A Comic Book Story
Ask 20 people to define “Love”, you’ll get 20 definitions.
Here’s mine.
I feel love is measured in how you’re treated when things go wrong, not when everything is okay. It’s one thing to say something in a joyous ceremony yet another when faced with real life. People tend to balk the moment it gets real. “It’s you and me forever” converts to, “It’s not you; it’s me.”
People leave.
Some can stick it out for years. Some go the first time things get stormy. Whatever vows spoken to whatever God is forgotten when one person has reached their limit.
Movies books and music make love seem like ‘happily ever after’ is assured. Pop Culture emphasizes the easily overcome struggle to stay with someone who has fallen on hard times or is stricken with a debilitating or fatal illness.
People do it, but it is far from easy. Trust me, I know.
I wrote about such a love affair in IF & HOPE.
The love affair of Roz Alexander-Kasparik and David Rector was the stuff of movies and books, but as we all know, ‘happily ever after’ isn’t as easy as Hollywood makes it look like.
David suffered an aortic dissection a tear in a major blood vessel and various complications left him unable to speak or walk.
Roz stayed.
Long years of struggle is an common complaint.
The years couldn’t have been long enough for Roz. She was in love in the truest sense of the word. She vowed to stay until the end. What end?
The end of days, the end of the world, the end of time. Whatever end would take her away from David. She just knew it would not be her that would end the relationship.
The end came for David earlier this month. His death leaving a hole in Roz’s world she thinks may be impossible to fill.
Roz called David her “heart.” You cannot live without your heart. So it’s good that David’s presence will endure his legacy one of strength and persistence, giving Roz hope.
Hope isn’t something one wants to hear about when faced with the kind of pain Roz is feeling now. I know that and the following isn’t about hope its about truth.
Roz, there are no words I can write that can convey the impact both David and yourself had on me. I will miss David’s unique “melody” at the Black Panel and the intense look he gave me communicating with his eyes what he couldn’t with voice. I will miss talking with you by phone and feeling like David was part of the discussion when you translated his sounds.
Few things impress me, fewer I envy. Your relationship with David did both.
You’re one of the strongest people I know. I hope your pain is tempered, knowing the impression David made on many. With David by your side you fought for the rights of those burdened with disadvantages. Without David it will be hard but I know that will continue.
I don’t need to hope there is no if-this I know.
Just like I know the comic you created with David, Recall & Given will become a reality.
It’s also a given.