People who traffic in the defense of symbols—sexual absolutists, opponents of flag desecration, erectors of Ten Commandments monuments—seem only the most limited and basically unsatisfied people to us.  They seem as if no one ever pulled them aside to advise them on the reed’s lesson to the oak in Aesop’s fable: bend, not break.

We had grown fatigued with repetitive dating, as any single person can.  We were tired of settling over and over.  We were still enthusiastic about lovers, those occasional women who stirred our blood and tickled our imaginations, but we were most interested in finding a devoted partner.

There have been aspects of character in some of our past girlfriends that we wholly honor.  Honesty and forthrightness, devotion and intelligence, respect for animals and nature, passion and an open heart: these are among the traits that endeared us to these women we’ve been lucky enough to know and they are the traits we wish to find in any future lover or partner.  We hope for a union of trust and love with a woman who wishes to live her life with us.  And we hope she’ll recognize the boundless love within the two of us, and want to share in its happiness.

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