L’Amour: The Love Issue
The Editor's Letter
by Jennifer Cooper, posted on January 24th, 2010 in The Love Issue
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When I settled on the theme for this issue I didn’t anticipate it being as challenging as it was. I thought, well everyone can talk about love. It’s simple right?
Wrong.
You see, the thing about love isn’t that there’s too little to say, it’s that there’s too much.
I wanted to share some cute story about my first childhood crush. His name was CW and I chased him around the playground in Kindergarten. In first grade my advances paid off when he kissed my hand during circle time. I wiped it on the rug and another boy told me I was just rubbing it in.
I wanted to share a story about the time in 7th grade when I dumped a boy named Scott on Valentine’s Day and how I still feel bad about it to this day. At 12, I hadn’t quite yet grasped the concept of empathy.
I wanted to share a story about how I met my other half when I was 16 or how I so vividly remember what the priest who married us said when we met with him about the wedding: Everything in life has a natural tendency to decay. It is up to you to tend to the things you love so that they grow. This year my other half and I celebrate 18 years of never being apart.
I wanted to share how I felt when I found out I was pregnant or how I thought my heart would burst when they placed our daughter in my arms for the first time, or how I wept the night before my son was born thinking, “I never want our daughter to think she wasn’t enough and that’s why we had another baby.”
I wanted to tell you how much I love my friends and how I know that if I were to face great adversity, they would be there in a heartbeat to help in any way they could. And how I want to be there for them should they ever need a helping hand.
And yet, when I sat down to write this introduction to this issue, I had difficulty finding the words.
So I will step aside and let the writers, who are able to talk about love, share their stories.
In this issue of Classic Play you’ll hear from some of my favorite, supremely talented writers who share their thoughts on love: from not realizing the depths of love one can feel for another (Don’t Call It Puppy Love) to loving yourself just the way you are (A Valentine Story or Tale of a Fifth Grade Zombie Girl); from love lost (Separate Paths) to love found (Imperfectly Perfect).
We’ll also take you inside the home of one Washington, DC family who make spending quality time together a priority (Family Date Night).
And for you crafty types, we’ve included a great Valentines Day craft (Treat Bags) designed by our good friend Joya Logue from joyababy and downloadable Valentine’s cards by one of my favorite gals about town, artist Sara Michener.
I couldn’t be prouder of this issue and hope that you fall in love with it just as I have.
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who made this issue possible, from the contributors to those behind the scenes (Luke & Dave) who worked for countless hours on the construction and design of this site. And I want to especially thank my family and friends for believing in this project. When I would feel overwhelmed, they were there to cheer me on. I can never thank you all enough. So with that I say…
To l’amour!
All my love,
Jen
