At the end of yesterday’s post, I referred to putting points in the “Love Bank.” I was going to include a link to provide a little better explanation of what I meant, and realized that I hadn’t really written much about it in this blog. It was a simple little “game” that my wife would tease me with while we were dating and into the first few years of our marriage. There was no game board or playing pieces, just a scoring system that only she knew. In basic terms, if I did something “good” for her, then love points would be deposited in my account. The goal would be to get this mythical Love Bank as full as possible. I’m not sure that there was ever a way to completely fill it up, or even add another bank, but if the levels got too low and approached empty, it would be time to make a major deposit. Gift buying certainly added to the levels, as did helpful deeds, thoughtfulness, and general kindness. To be honest, it was mostly about showering her with gifts, doing my share of housework, and staying out of the dreaded doghouse. The fact of the matter is that no matter how big the deposit, I was never really safe and secure. However, it was her subtle way of saying that I might be “on thin ice,” and she needed attention!

I’m sure I earned some “Love Bank” points these past few days by being on my best behavior during our trip to D.C. to meet my wife’s daughter’s boyfriend. I would probably earn more if I were to buy her a Lincoln Limoges Box, for example, to celebrate our run/walk to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I’m definitely losing points by not dressing up more when I go on Date Night, Movie Night, or outside the house in general. The status of the Love Bank will come up in conversation between us on occasion, but not the fixture in our relationship of the early years. I’d like to think that our love is growing better with age, and here’s a poem from several years ago where I incorporated her “Love Bank” concept at the very end:

 

Some Things Get Better With Age

There is improvement,
As time works its magic.
Some just get better,
Make life fantastic.

Wine in the barrel,
Grows in flavor.
Giving us its nectar,
To enjoy and savor.

As time passes by,
Its value increases.
From inside each grape,
More flavor releases.

Roll out the barrel,
We’ll have some fun.
Vines growing rich,
From days in the sun.

Then aged in the dark,
Throughout the years.
Awaiting a toast,
Exclaiming “Cheers.”

I think of us,
When thinking of wine.
Our love getting stronger,
Like a thick old vine.

We’ve grown it together,
Share it each day.
It’s our love potent,
And it’s Grade A.

When I squeeze you,
It oozes from your pores.
It should be bottled,
And sold in stores

Money in the love bank,
Too high to gage.
Our love is growing,
Better with age.

Copyright August 2016 johnstonwrites.com

 

Here are some other excerpts from other poems throughout the years where I made mention of the Love Bank:

 

St. Lucia is around the bend,

Feelings for you will never end,

Your every need I will attend

Our budding love bank I will tend.

 

A ball park frank,   

With those damn Yanks.                                                                           

A growing love bank,

With each other to thank.

 

Another month together passed,

Our hours together go so fast.

We try to make these moments last,

With our Love Banks growing vast.

 

Finally, here’s an excerpt from a poem where I had abandoned her for a Nike basketball game here in Portland. Nothing takes points from the Love Bank any faster than leaving her behind when I go to a sporting event!

 

After abandoning you,

For Nike’s Phil Knight.

My Love Bank account,

Is dangerously light.

 

I am truly incentivized by collecting points, if Marriott Reward Points provide any example. The Love Bank idea would probably work better if I knew exactly how many points were given or taken with each transaction. As it stands now, I just have to guess, and it’s probably “running on empty.”