Shoot, according to our radios and vinyl records, love was pure romance, lust and sex all rolled up into one. If you owned (or still own) a Prince album, you know what I'm talking about.

But love is more than that. In the Greek translation, there are five interpretations of love.

> Love is eros, the passion, the "falling in love" syndrome. It's real, can't deny that. It's the spark that ignites. It's about two people who forget everything else and consume each other. En fuego.

> There's love as philia, a love between best friends, the people you enjoy in company and fellowship.

> Of course, there's agape, the unconditional love that knows no limitations. It is the love of the New Testament, as opposed to the fire-and-brimstone flavor of the Old Testament.

> Storge was a definition relegated to relationships within family.

> Thelema is desire, a desire to do somethng, be occupied or be in prominence.

The ones we relate to most today, from old folks to toddlers, are the first three. As a younger man, I didn't think twice at the word love. But as I get older, it's clearer to me how complex it really is, and that multiple definitions are accurate as opposed to the stuff we used to hear in music.

That's life. It's complicated sometimes, and the simplest way to understand it is to know the differences. That's why love is a strong word.

Previous Article: Retro Aloha: The Old Stadium
Next Article: OK, this sounds a little simple but ...