i do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
i love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

i love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

i love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
i love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so i love you because i know no other way

than this: where i does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as i fall asleep.

sonnet XVII, pablo neruda

deals

i am always trying to find ways to save money. and i must say ilove ross! such great deals on home décor, baby clothes, plates, sheets, towels, etc. i love tj maxx and marshalls too but it's harder to get over to county line road. so i have been going to ross alot lately because i am in search for these particular towels. they had tons of them a few months ago and i knew i should have bought them then but i didn't. lesson learned.. if i even think i might want/need it get it; it probably won't be there next time. since they get 1-2 shipments a week i have been trying to go at least that often. i have found 2 hand towels for $2 each and jessica found me 6 washcloths and i think 4 towels in birmingham. (ross shopping in birmingham is great because there are about 5 in the surrounding area!) jessica is so sweet to look there for me! so i went today to look for the towels again..no towels but i got some great spring/summer clothes for ella. i usually get the majority of her clothes from ross and then get a few pieces at sweet dreams. well today if i had paid full price for the clothes it would have been about $230!! BUT i spent about $81!!! amazing!!