Love Lines: Heart Smart Valentines

By Alfred Colo and John Offord

Until something goes wrong, we take our hearts for granted. Heart-Smart-Gurus, inspired by long research, point to that bright red Valentine in our chests, pumping tirelessly and endlessly on our behalf. But one day textbook cardiagram wiggles, veer off the chart and we are pronounced, however gently, cardiologically in-correct. We feel betrayed. We more or less, thought we were doing everything right so, whats gotten into our ticker, that loyal, lifeline friend? Time for one thing, heart sore for another, Hearts are only human after all. Whats a longevity-seeker to do, especially if blessed with enough heart-health insurance to make high-tech opportunities, breakdownaffordable? The concept of preventing heart ache, arresting it, or reversing it, is Valentines number one topic. For me its a question of flat out prevention, to heal the heart emotionally, via a softening process designed to protect the precious pump. Accumulation of blockage is what causes arterial malfunction. Deprived of emotional oxygen, our own hearts cannot dilate freely. Regular exercise may prevent an attack, and insure loves longevity.

Superman has nobody, doesnt need a seat belt, nor even a plane. Are you flying solo? Be a friend. Find a lover. No man is an island. A centuries-old someone pointed out: Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief. When needed, good friends give major doses of encouragement on short notice, as do family supporters when trouble finds us. A circle of wagons is a supreme conductor for immediate shelter against stray enemy arrows. The John Wayne, strong, silent type, I dont need anybody and men dont show love mentality, isnt macho, man, but flat out stupid! In this writers paraphrase, Samuel Johnson admonished, If a man does not renew his friendships, and make new acquaintances, he finds himself playing alone as he grows, too-soon old and too-late smart. One must keep friendships in constant repair. Has your friendship grown distant, worn thin, been allowed to slip away? Do a bit of friendship repair with a welcome oil-change, and a few new points and plugs. Invite a friend or lover to do lunch: Whatever it takes, fix it: Whatever it needs, mend it: Whenever it bleeds, move on to a more worthy and willing recipient of your hearts affections. An old Scottish proverb states, He who ceases to be your friend never was a good one. In other words, with friends like you, who needs enemies? While youre at it, start at home with your significant other. Maintain this key friendship when it warrants home-improvement. Remember, your mate reads you like a book, which ought not be a mystery novel. Perhaps you need to uncover the tinfoil to let her read the introduction and to truly reveal your heart, by allowing her not just to scan but to study all its pages. A woman, who is allowed this look-see inside her mates heart, is the one who becomes and remains your life-long best friend, partner and home companion. A Promise Keeper, fueled by faith, fired with compassion and true to God, achieves unconditional passions for love of life, love of wife, of relatives and friends, co-workers, and parishioners, and has love to spare even for enemies. So turn the other cheek. The other kiss may be love-saving. To have a friend is to be one; its the beginning of relationships that lead to loves: paternal, filial, (described as fraternal), as in Philadelphia, (city of brotherly love), and Eros, even if the arrows point in alternate-lifestyle directions, and sex without love or marriage. Agape love, of course, is the ultimate love of our Creator for his Creation, leading to Eternal Love, if you will, that Father-God promises His children. To love one another as He loves us, is not a request, but a command, from the Nurturer who furnishes the glue to make it stick.

Can you buy love? Sure, if youre shopping for a convenient kind, tried and untrue. You can only earn respect by modeling love. It is o

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 16, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465332233

Alfred Colo

Alfred Colo, a former singer-songwriter, has immersed himself in full-blown poetry from creative love lyrics he honed his craft on when he realized that his passion for words lay beyond mere expressions of amour. His initial attempt at self-publishing with Xlibris Corporation in 2008 is a nature lover’s view in poetry through the four seasons, entitled Inside Looking Out. Reluctant at first, not offering too much material at once for reasons both pragmatic and artistic, he later ventured to expand his theme with residual material not included in his first book on four seasons alone. As his appetite grew, he knew that there was more he had to say in his accumulated poetry since 1984, which begged inclusion of more poems on the related twelve months of a year beyond the four seasons. After years of creative writing, learning and perfecting his art, he felt it was worthy enough and the right time to make public what eventually has become this collection. He trusts that his reading followers will concur that it was indeed worth the effort to have written a “companion book” to its predecessor, Inside Looking Out. Alfred lives in New Fairfield, Connecticut, after compelling circumstances led him here to exit the Big Apple. Including this one, he has authored twelve books pictured with others to follow. An active octogenarian, Alfred pursues his prolific outpourings on a variety of subjects at a still-going-like sixty white-heat rate. See if you can keep pace with a poet determined to make a mark and to leave a legacy to be proud of. He captures the spirit of his works by suggesting wholly or in part what the cover design will look like on both front and back. From his New Fairfield, Connecticut, home, author Alfred Colo finds inspiration in the abundant wild life he observes and includes in his writing. Other favorite creatures he depicts are angels, nativity scenes and yes, even Santa. Colo’s writings, are rich in detail and luminous in depth and like much of his work, it transcends its confines to achieve a dimensional reality infused with spiritual peace, whimsy, originality and creative imagination, singular cheer and good will. “I relish re-creating scenes of simple, uncomplicated faith,” Colo adds. Responding to an inner childhood calling, the author has created a succession of works as a diverse poet of impressive stature, rivaling his predecessors and role models. He is enabled to keep-fresh the approximately two-thousand-year gap from BC Bethlehem to the current beliefs in Christianity in his re-creation of this advent Christmas story of Jesus nativity.

Book preview

Copyright © 2009 by Alfred Colo.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without

permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

Front cover inspired from an original photo taken by the author.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

43681

Contents

Introduction

Abound In Love

All’s Not Fair in Love and War

Anonymous

Another Way

As Long As I Live

Because You Love Him

Besides Love

The Best Of All Possible Worlds

B u t M i n e

A Change Of Heart

Clover-Green Love

The Color Of Your Heart

Come Along With Me

C o m e L i v e W i t h M e

Comes Love

Cupid’s Grab Bag

Date Doctor

The Day the Whole World Comes Together

Do Love

Don’t Lock Your Heart

Don’t you just love this gal?

E m p a t h y

ET

Everybody Wanna Be Loved

Everyone says:

Fair Game

February—The Month Of Hearts

Fidelity

First Love*

Fit For A King

Flowers For Sandra

For Love’s Denying

From Paradise

The Game Of Love

The Gift Of Love

Great Adventure

The Great Divide

A Heart Set Free

H e a r t — S m a r t

Heart Sounds

Hell’s Bells

T h e H u m a n H e a r t

I Speak Of Love

I’m N o A n g e l

If I Have No Love

If You Fall For Anyone

If You Had The Heart

In The Name Of Love

Invitation

It’s All About Love

It’s An Awfully Small Heart

A Jealous Valentine

Just Like You

The King Of All Hearts

The Law Of Love

Listen To My Dreams

A Lot Like Love

Love Child

Love Is

Love Made Visible

L o v e P o e m

Love That Never Fails

The Love You Give

Lover

My Future Valentine And I

My Love So Far

The Myst’ries Of Romance

Night Moves

Nothing Is Sweeter

Oh Promise, Love

On Valentine’s Day

The One In My Dream

One Heart To Another

Our Heart

Race For The Roses

Say It With Flowers

Second Chance

Serendipity

Seven Month Itch

Silence Of The Heart

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

Snow Flakes In April

S o m e d a y

Someone’s Heart

Some One Like You

Song Bird

Soul Mates—

Special Delivery

Starcrossed

Tadpole

Tell Me A Story

A Terrible Thing To Waste

These Were The Hearts

The Thought That Amazes

Tomorrow

Twice In A Lifetime

Twice Upon A Time

Unconditional Love

Until

Valentine, Beware

A Valentine From Jesus

A Valentine Trio

Valentines Anonymous

Valentines Are

What Am I Looking For?

What’s Happened To My Heart?

When Diana Loved Me

Who Would Believe It?

A Windsock Valentine

Wisdom Of Heart

Won’t You Be My Valentine?

Word Play

Words

You May Have Everything

You Never Know When

Introduction

If you need a change of heart, it may be time for an annual check-up; you may require a transplant.

Until something goes wrong, we take our hearts for granted. Heart-Smart-Gurus, inspired by long research, point to that bright red Valentine in our chests, pumping tirelessly and endlessly on our behalf. But one day textbook cardiagram wiggles, veer off the chart and we are pronounced, however gently, ‘cardiologically in-correct.’ We feel betrayed. We more or less, thought we were doing everything right so, what’s gotten into our ticker, that loyal, lifeline friend? Time for one thing, heart sore for another, hearts are only human after all. What’s a longevity-seeker to do, especially if blessed with enough heart-health insurance to make high-tech opportunities, breakdown—affordable? The concept of preventing heart ache, arresting it, or reversing it, is Valentine’s number one topic. For me it’s a question of flat out prevention, to heal the heart emotionally, via a softening process designed to protect the precious pump. Accumulation of blockage is what causes arterial malfunction. Deprived of emotional oxygen, our own hearts cannot dilate freely. Regular exercise may prevent an attack, and insure love’s longevity.

Consider the LOVE LINES. How much will you expend on Valentine gift-giving? How often we are commercially, irreversibly prodded. Without ads and the media, wouldn’t the interest in Valentine’s Day wane? Traditional heart-filled confections are yearly packaged to win someone’s affections. Fabulous, assorted ‘tempties’ are brim-filled with the lusciousness of the chocolatier’s art.

The heart has become a candy factory, clogged by the ritual of giving, but not always with heartfelt love. If you give, give from the heart, with all your heart. Too much sugar, though, can choke the arteries and block the LOVE LINES leading to the haven of the Sweet Tooth Fairy. Is your