Score: 15-Love

Tennis fans will understand the score 15-Love. The 15 represents the winner and “Love” represents the loser. In tennis the word “Love” literally means you’ve scored zero points. Sitting out in my car sipping an expensive coffee this morning waiting for my family to wake up, I identified with that scoring system. I feel like in my life, and in this town, Love = Zero.

As the rain streamed and gently tapped on my car shame tears rolled down my face at the same time. Where did I go wrong in life? Or, in this town?

It felt like this town won and I lost so I had to leave. I’m not sure if it’s because this is the town that my husband dumped me in. Or the fact that I glued my heart back together only for it to be a feeble target two more times. I may not have married again, but I did love again.

Yeah, I loved two more times here. The love failure score is now 3 for 3. I tried 3 times, I failed 3 times. I have to say, facing the harshness of my losing love life opened my eyes to why the move was good for me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing my family and I miss them a lot. But this town and its blasted memories? Huh. That’s not the questioning “Huh?” that’s the karate “huh”. The noise my teacher told me to make when I leveled a punch. Like, “Take that!” When you make a noise with the punch, it’s supposed to help you hit harder.

It sounds stupid but it’s all I’ve got right now. Love has been cruel. Especially for a Valentine’s baby. And, the last attempt was the worst of all. I was asked out and taken out on my birthday by a man I had been getting to know since November. I’m still feeling the effects of that. And it all started in this town.

Most people would give up, but not me. Possibly because I was born on V-Day and am a champion for love! Or, because I believe God is love and how can that be bad? My logical mind can crunch ideas from here to eternity and never figure it out. I just choose to get through it. And believe it or not, eventually try again. Only in a different town and hopefully with different results!