Why is it 'FALL'? Why Fall?
Why not trip? Leap? Stroll? Run? Prance like a gazelle?
Why is the falling synonymous with having just admitted to oneself or the person for whom the affection is focused that you feel the all encompassing 'love'?
Why is it something associated with legs not working properly that leaves me with the image of flay-ling arms and legs, screaming down a gaping blackhole in the sidewalk?
Falling itself is never really a positive thing.
Perhaps the link arose as the first stages of love do tend to be rather terrifying. Sweaty palms, sweaty armpits, sweat in general. Ridiculous smiles that may be described as lighting up a room, but are very obvious signs of infatuation and the only reason any room would light up is they are laughing at your dorky arse. All the "first's" that happen in the beginning are also pulse-racing affairs; the mixed signals, confusion, fear of dissatisfying the said new partner, fear of rejection, hope that finally this one might be the one.
Humph. Maybe "falling" is actually a tad understated as the above sounds like an awful way to spend a Saturday night.
When I fall I tend to scratch myself up in some way; fracture a wrist, roll an ankle, find my face connecting with someone else's elbow (all outcomes of playing fullback in soccer, which is what i do on Saturday nights) and you know my heart is never fluttering like a damn butterfly. Sure it's pounding from sheer exertion, fear and pain, and perhaps for that brief moment suspended in time when I am falling, my heart may stop pounding to jump in my throat - something I know can happen in the love version of the great fall - as I fear how bad I am going to be hurt this time. Everything slows as I feel each muscle stretch and my limbs hit the ground. Finally I stop and wait for that split second before my nerves register the landing. I either scream in pain, frozen in whatever busted-up pose I landed in, or get up, brush myself off and live to play another day.
Wow. Okay I think I just used a soccer analogy where I get slide-tackled to the ground to explain why we 'fall' in love.
And next week: I use fishing to explain the re-bound boy.
I dunno. 'Falling' conveys something so much faster than getting to know someone and realizing you love everything about them. I guess 'Fall' could be used for 'love at first sight'. But truth be told I see 'falling in love' as more of an exit ramp. You don't fall a few steps, you slow walk down the slanted ramp into lovehood:)
ReplyDelete:) love that ramp katie! I don't know what mood I was in yesterday, every now and then things like this pop in my head and i wonder 'hey- why is that like that?' always a good musing :)
ReplyDeleteFalling in love certainly isn't as instant as falling physically, is it? :o) But I did fall off of a cliff once and I suppose a couple of my former heartaches hurt about as bad as that. Great thoguhts here, Ali! Can't wait to see the fishy re-bound. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered that myself. But your explanation does make sense.
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