The way it is

My post about real romance drew some fascinating true stories in the comments section.  It makes me suspect that if we writers ask all the couples around us how they met, we will have fodder for many books to come.

Those stories also remind me to look at life--real, awkward, joyous, messy, funny, strange life--for material, rather than at the preconceived images we carry around in our heads.  For example, "romance," "motherhood," "tragedy," and "courage" are words that can call up stereotypica...