If..., Volume 3

From the Introduction: “Love. Romance. Sex.   From the imaginative lover to the imaginary one, our imaginations play central role in our love lives. Pity the person who believes there exists no connection between the heart and the imagination, or pity their lover, anyway. From the first time we begin to discover there’s a thing called love—tumultuous, chaotic, confusing, frightfully powerful, and stunningly joyous—we begin to imagine what might be if . . .  And as long as we are able to love (in other words, as long as we are alive), our imaginations help us through it, fill in the gaps, make us hopeful, steel our nerves, augment our romantic ideas, protect our humility, guide our actions, and help keep things interesting. Would we dare enter into love otherwise?   Yet as wonderful and wrenching as romantic love can be, it remains startlingly incomprehensible, and the mysteries of our own hearts tantalize us. Can we know more? Are we meant to? Ask yourself some of these questions, and ask those you love, or would like to. Where will they take you? What will they reveal? Do you have the courage to answer? Be prepared for anything.   And always, always, treasure the game of love.   We would like to add that some of the following questions are rather direct, and personal, and not everyone will choose to ponder them, but in no case do we intend offense.”