That Four Letter Word

A few years ago, I wrote a short story entitled "Topping Love" in which love was compared to a pizza. There were basic elements (crust, sauce, cheese) for everyone, but the importance of toppings varied from person to person. (The story appears in fine flickering hungers and uses the characters from my Costa Rica series: Sam, Jess, Charlie, and Richard.)

I did a good bit of reading about love, especially research/theories, while writing that story. One that has stuck with me is Yale psychologist Robert Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love:



If I'd make a poster of the image above, I could use thumbtacks to accurately peg every relationship in my life that was deeper than a casual acquaintance. Each day, I could adjust the placement of the tacks as bonds grew or were damaged by action or inaction (whether mine or that of others). Maybe I'll do that - just for grins. *wink*

The ultimate (consummate) love, Sternberg asserts, is the interior of the triangle. Most of the time, I agree with that assertion. I think a lot of people invest a lot of effort to achieve that ideal -- and even more to maintain it. I wonder, though, if it's an unrealistic expectation for the long haul.

What do y'all think?