Love is not always about romance.

Often, when we think about love, the first thing we imagine is romantic love.

Although I am a big fan of romance when it's sincere and heart felt, my most important and enduring relationships are my friendships. Moving to Las Vegas has reunited me with several transplanted friends from the East Coast who have become very important in my new life here. My friend Gerry has a 34 year friendship that is so inspiring when it comes to expression of brotherly love, that I just love telling the story. This... is the cliff notes version...

Gerry McCambridge has a great show in Las Vegas called THE MENTALIST. He is a fantastic talent, and more important he is a great friend, and a giver.

When Gerry was in his very early teens, he worked as a soda jerk in a small shop in Bayside, Queens. There, he met Steve who was a busboy.

Working side by side, the two kids became friends, and brothers. For 32 years Gerry has looked after Steve, and Steve has lived with Gerry not only through two marriages, but the birth and growth of six children as well. I would say Steve has been a constant in Gerry's life, and without a doubt, Gerry has been the light and bedrock under Steve's very being. While one would assume that "Rainman" (as Gerry lovingly refers to him) would be the one who has learned the most, I have to say I think Gerry is the one who may actually have that honor.

Steve is an innocent. He is hilarious without knowing it; unlike most of us, he does not seem to have the ability for a malicious thought. God created him as a pure spirit, and that is exactly what he is. I believe that when special needs people enter this world, they surely must be extremely evolved spirits to choose a life that is not necessarily going to be easy. I also believe we all have something that is a "specialty" for us, something we love doing, something we are good at, something that when we are engaging in, we feel like our authentic selves. We feel happy.

I believe we all have natural God-given talents. Steve, loves numbers. He can tell you exact dates and times of events in his life, and if he knows you, he can recall yours as well. He can tell you the day he met you, what time it was, what day of the week it fell on, as well as what year it was. Oh yes, and what the weather was that day. For the record, the day he met me was July Twnety-Ninth, 2004. The weather was a beautiful, hot and sunny New York City Summer day. I know this not because I remembered it, but because I just called Steve and asked him :)

What I've learned from knowing Steve is how beautiful life is when we don't allow our minds to be fettered with all the "stuff" life can throw our way. His beautiful mind naturally moves on. He is living in the moment, every moment of his life. Though he remembers dates and events with genius, he lives in the here and now, every single moment you are with him. He does not experience extreme, overly dramatic emotions. He uses his mind to figure things out calmly. His emotions do not run his ship. In my opinion, that's an evolved being.

Steve does not even know what it is that makes him so lovable; but I do. It's simple, really. He just is love. Everyone that meets Steve loves and embraces him. God created him perfectly. Because of his pure spirit, he is a magnet for love. We can all learn from Steve, and my friend Gerry, who has given him a lifetime of brotherly love, friendship, and a sense of safety in a world that can often feel scary. Their friendship makes me wonder.... is it possible for us to all be there for each other even if only in some small way?

I believe it is.

You know I believe there is a writer in every one of us. I say it all the time. Everyone has a story. Who changed your life, made a difference, inspired you, or loved you into wellness? I invite you to share your story of love with my readers, if you'd like to. I will be posting some of your stories on my blog. You can inspire others to rise up and be all that God created them to be! Imagine that!

I declare 2010 to be the year we prosper, live our best lives, and most of all love.

I declare 2010 to be the year of LOVE and HOPE! Like the song says it's what the world needs now.

Happy New Year!
God Bless Every Single Area of Your Life!
Together, Let's Inspire Love.
Cat

Oh! And PS...The stories chosen for the blog will receive a special gift, tailored from me to you.