How to say, "I love you."

Josh and Chanelle with the quilt made by Kathryn.

How do you say, "I love you," and show that you really mean it?  Words certainly convey the sentiment, but alone they may not actually convince the recipient.  Words with action are always more palpable.  This then leads to the next question, what action will impart that heartfelt expression?

There is the "Say it with flowers" concept.  This is the universal expression of affection which everyone understands.  Colours tend to play an important part with red tending towards the more amorous end of the spectrum and yellow the platonic end.  Then there is the candy method, where chocolate tends to be the gift of choice by both parties.  The nice thing about this caffeine-laced confection is that it is malleable; it can be made to take any shape.  Hearts are the metaphor for love, while rabbits may express a more miserly tone, especially if purchased just after Easter.

Cards, of course, are the most expressive of the three, allowing the purchaser to peruse through a vast array of expressive slogans to find just the right one.  This one tends to have dimorphic ramifications though.  Males will often choose or get a card with little attention to the heartfelt inscriptions while women will examine every nuance to make sure that it fulfills the intended missive.

If you want to achieve the full trifecta, you throw caution to the wind and get all three for the one you love.  Red flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, and a mushy card all have the makings of expressing that "I love you" thought which words alone may not convey.  There is something interesting here though; all of these have a commonality.  Time.

It takes time to go to these places to acquire the goods, to make an appropriate selection, and to present them with both flourish and panache.  The flowers will die, the candy eaten, and the card will experience the recycle bin.  They all took time to be delivered though, and that is the gift that tends to remain.  You took time for me.

This is where my wife, Kathryn, excels.  She likes to show her love by giving quilts.  It took almost two years - hundreds and hundreds of hours - to make the quilt she presented to her son and daughter-in-law.  That in itself is amazing, but consider that she completed it while being disabled.  Her continuous headaches prevent her from using her machines most every day; only a short window of time is available each week where she can sum-up the resources to go into her sewing room and work on her project.  Yet it has been her desire to show love in a palpable way that has allowed her to finish the task.

I can't think of a better way to say, "I love you."