The Wild Woman on Love

[Hallmark's Maxine created by John Wagner]

Wild Woman

spent the first

half of her life

believing

her prince

would come.

She spent the second

half of her life

processing

her disappointment

over who

showed up

instead.

Wild Woman,

in theory,

still believes

in love.

She has read about it,

watched movies,

has happily paired

friends.

The question is:

is it foolish

to believe

it is

still possible?

If he

showed up now,

he'd be

just in time

to buy her

a new set of teeth.

Is it tender

or traumatic

to picture

glasses full of

dentures

on both sides

of the bed?

Is love

big enough

to weather

facial hair

on the

wrong gender?

Does she

really need

someone to

help her

get her coat on

right-side up,

and remember the

name and plot

of last night's movie?

Can hearts

and walkers

intertwine

without calamity?

Not to

mention

bodies,

and the attendant

danger

of serious injury.

Is that a gleam

she sometimes sees

in old men's eyes

      as she passes........

or cataracts?

Does she

qualify

for a

two for the price

of one

coupon

for one hundred solid years

of Believing in Love?

What is the

Return policy,

if it is

a big mistake?

Isn't it

a hoot

that

the cars

she used to

go out

on dates in

are now antiques,

and she's still

thinking about

Mr. Right?

Is it best

to accept

that watching a

love story

on her big screen tv

is actually

far more restful

and enjoyable

than actually

living one?

Wild Woman is

too tired

for angst.

Wild Woman

took so long

to figure herself out,

she has long

since passed

her Best Before date.

Sigh.

"Too soon old,

too late smart."