Pure Love

Me:  Brandon ... why do people love you so much?

Brandon:  because I love them!

This conversation is engrained in my heart & spirit.  It took place about 7 years ago.  Brandon was a 4 year old boy that grew up in abject poverty and in a turbulent environment.  I wanted to help him  -- but soon, I discovered, he helped me.

Brandon was the 3rd of 4 children ... with a mother who could not find love within herself -- so brought any man into the house who promised her the hint of love because her husband was either "on the road" or in and out of jail.  

Often, the children would not get 3 meals a day.  Their rental home was a mishmash of smelly carpet, mangy pets, broken toys and sheets for curtains.  The mother tried - I think ... but often couldn't find the strength to keep it up.  She tried to rent in a good neighborhood with good schools -- things were OK when the husband or lover du jour provided with extra money.  Often, she would struggle trying to make the rent payment.  The family & my sweet Brandon eventually were evicted.  

With 4 children, little self-esteem and high expectation ... I understood why Brandon's mom would often give-up. 

I loved his smile that tugged @ my heart.  I still remembered the blonde kid with the piercing blue eyes.  I still remember him ringing my friend's door bell looking for "Reena".  My friend lived in the same neighborhood. 

Years have gone by ... I think about Love -- and the first person that comes to mind is Brandon.  The Brandon who had every reason to not understand Love ... yet understood the simplest rule of Love:

Love ... and Love, Loves (back).