My Boo

I cannot get this song out of my head!  I'm not talking about the theme song to Nick Jr.'s Team Umizoomi (though that one's in my head too, thanks to my big boy).  I'm talking about the song "My Boo" by Alicia Keys and Usher.  I've always liked the song, but recently it got me to thinking...

I'm always excited when one of my single girlfriends has a new boo.  I'm interested in hearing all about how they met, how he makes her feel, and if she thinks he has the potential to become more serious.  I suppose it's because I can relate.  I remember how it felt when I first started dating Johnny.  I was giddy too.  All day every day.

Now, almost nine years into our relationship, and almost six years into our marriage, I gotta say I'm not quite so giddy.  Not all the time.  And you know why.  Over time, reality sets in.  Things aren't so new and shiny anymore, what was once cute (hair in the sink, socks left behind, smelly farts) now irks the you-know-what out of you, you're paying bills, taking care of kids, killing yourself at work, and the list goes on.  The monotony of life can get the best of you. 

Don't get me wrong, I do have giddy moments - like when Johnny brings home a sweet card, or when we have a date night planned.  But I'd like to get to a place where it feels like it felt back in '04.  All giddy, all the time...or at least a lot more  of the time.  And I want to do what I can to make sure my hubby still feels it too (like how I used to cry early in our long-distance relationship when he had to return home after a weekend together).

I (and everyone out there who's lost their giddy) would appreciate your comments and suggestions on this one.  I'd especially like to hear the perspective of some of you single folks.  How do we get our giddy back?

What is Black Love?

Over the holiday, I had dinner with two good girlfriends of mine, one of whom recently got engaged to her boyfriend. She's Black, he's White. Her good news, along with the most recent installment of Soledad O'Brien's Black in America series on CNN brought to the forefront a question I've been pondering since we started this blog - What exactly is Black Love and how is it defined? (For the record, O'Brien's recent special asked the question, Who is Black in America?  For more, click here to read CNN's In America blog.)

Last spring, Johnny and I had a delicious brunch at Miss Shirley's Cafe in Baltimore. Emphasis on delicious.  It was a quadruple date (plus two of us couples brought our children - it was brunch, after all) with my cousin and her then-fiancé-now-hubby, and two other couples. Part of the meal was spent cheerfully discussing how the engagement went down as well as their wedding plans. During the course of the conversation, the question about the meaning of Living Black Love came up again. My cousin wasn't sure if her relationship was considered Black Love because her guy isn't African-American (he's biracial - White and Puerto Rican). My first thought (and statement, if I remember correctly) was, you're Black, and even if he's not, it is Black Love.

Right?

So, whaddya say? Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts.