Hi Matthew

I hadn't read your email last night when we were in IRC chat - didn't
get to it until bed time.

I can see what you're talking about.

Too many people have this "starry-eyed" notion that love will solve
everything.  It doesn't.  It's a very important part of life, but you
have to live in the real world.  Just because you've found your "soul
mate" doesn't mean you will live a trouble free life.  Sure, you might
feel that way when you're alone in your own home with that person, but
you have to go out.  To work, or to school, or whatever.  You have to
deal with other human beings, and the sometimes hard facts of life
like illness, death, war, financial troubles - I can go on forever.

Love can help you get through problems like this, if, as you said, you
have the respect and confidence in each other.  Sometimes, though,
troubles can kill love.  I've seen illness break up marriages.  I've
seen spouses tear at each other when one loses a job, and seen their
marriages crumble.

I couldn't write a story where love conquers all.  Hard work conquers
most - not all.  There are some problems that cannot be solved, and
facing that is a hard thing to do.

Nope, I won't be writing a "love conquers all story", though I
probably will read them and shake my head in wonderment.

See you in chat.

June