65 ways to say I love you

People say the phrase, I love you, is over-used, that the words lacking meaning. People claim you cannot say I love you, you need to show love. But can you say it?

In another iteration of my 65-er lists (65 things to do while watching TV; 65 things to do while not sleeping; 65 things to wonder about; 65 things to ask God if She exists; 65 things I want to say but never have), I make that attempt here.

1. Good morning.
2. Sweet dreams.
3. I hear you.
4. I’m sorry.
5. Let me carry that for you.
6. Are you cold?
7. Sit, I will do the dishes.
8. There’s a little piece of spinach on your front tooth.
9. Can I bring you some homemade soup?
10. What are your thoughts about mom’s situation?
11. I will come with you to the wake.
12. I will be there for you in the audience.
13. I will pick up the groceries.
14. Can I help you tie your shoe?
15. Would you like to help me with the laundry?
16. That was such a kind thing to do.
17. What a good observation!
18. That looks like it hurt. Would you like a band-aid?
19. Do you need to be tucked in again?
20. You can cry.
21. It’s okay.
22. Can I wash your feet?
23. You look tired, would you like to rest?
24. Rest your head on me.
25. Let me rub your shoulders/wash your hair/wipe the tears from your cheek/tuck a wisp of hair behind your ear/open the door for you/hold the elevator for you/hold you closer.
26. Can you help me? I need help.
27. Thank you for listening.
28. Have you seen the moon tonight?
29. I enjoy being with you.
30. I enjoy your being.
31. Can I hold your hand?
32. I ache for your presence.
33. I ache for your touch.
34. Please touch me.
35. Your touch makes me shiver.
36. Your touch opens me.
37. The warmth of your body is like the morning’s timid start and the evening’s assured encircling.
38. You flood me.
39. You disorient me.
40. You orient me.
41. I trust you.
42. Thank you for being a good ________ mother/father/son/daughter/sister/brother/friend/lover/human.
43. I’m scared.
44. Thank you for being brave.
45. Thank you for being honest.
46. Thank you for being vulnerable.
47. Thank you for being you.
48. Thank you for sharing that with me.
49. Thank you for listening.
50. I’m grateful for you.
51. Do you want to go fishing with me?
52. Do you want to share a meal with me?
53. Can I cook for you?
54. Would you like to just sit with me?
55. I just saw the hummingbird in our garden again.
56. Your hands are delicate, tender, and strong like a gossamer spider’s web.
57. You are my net before hitting the hard pavement of the world.
58. Can I hug you?
59. Please hold me.
60. Can I carry you?
61. We can do this together.
62. I didn’t know you felt that way, thought that way, wanted that, needed that.
63. I apologize that my communication is not always so clear.
64. Your eyes change color when you laugh.
65. I love how easily you cry at sad films, books, poems.
66. I want to get lost with you.
67. Thank you for growing with me, learning with me, being patient with me, forgiving me, rediscovering me, allowing me to be me.
68. My world lightens when I hear your voice.
69. I still hear your voice even though you are gone.
70. I can recognize your gait from across an imperceptible distance.
71. No I’m not too busy.
72. I painted this for you.
73. I wrote this for you.
74. I made this for you.
75. You inspire me.
76. I am not in a hurry with you.
77. I feel seen by you.
78. I feel more with you.
79. You still shorten my breathe with excitement and yet lengthen my inhalations with relief.
80. Your tears taste like the rivers flowing to the ocean and back into the rain that falls upon our uplifted faces.
81. Every day you happen to me again, flicker like the prosaic and magnificent magic of fireflies in the twilight, unfold in layers of gentle dewy newness as if I never knew you at all, as if I never knew anything at all.
82. I revel in the cracks in your brokenness.
83. I love you in the wholeness, the complexity,  the fragility, and infinite essence of who you are, were, and will be.

It is true. You are not wrong. This is a list of 83 and not 65. Out of curiosity today, I went back to count all of the post I’ve written. In honor of that number, in honor of my continual unboundedness, and because love always deserves our additive efforts, I give you more here.