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       There is an old neighbor of mine, a man I knew for years whom I have been writing about in "How to Find Love at An Older Age." I was a friend of his wife. He was a friend of my husband. He lost his wife 15 years ago. Two years ago,  after I lost my husband, this man and I began a relationship which I tell my children is Platonic.

         "What in the world does Platonic mean? They ask. Well...

         Philosophically, “Platonic” alludes to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato who never used the term himself. However, Plato often in his works referred to ideal forms that exist in a higher world as perfect abstractions-- the pure reality above our impure material existence

         The ideal form of Love  spelled with a capital L casts only its shadow on the endless variants that we call love spelled with a small “l”. Our loves on earth are poor simulations of the Awesome, Divine and True Love of Higher Reality,

       I imagine the term Platonic love evolved to describe a human love that expresses some of that Awe, some sense of  Divine and some sensibility of Higher Truths.

       Now you see where this discussion is going.

        Platonic love means the relationship is not physical. For those of us who have journeyed long in this life, we know that sex, which can be so pleasurable, is potentially volatile. The passions it expresses can turn into hate, jealousy, revulsion, or even cruelty, and apathy.

        Not so a Platonic relationship which can remain pure and innocent. You can even have two or three Platonic lovers at the same time. But Beware! Platonic love is not recommended for the young!

      When elderly M comes to visit and we sip tea, before I instruct him in chi gong, I see the great light of his soul sparkling from beneath his eyeglasses. I experience a great warming of my insides without sensual physical contact.  Afterwards we talk passionately about philosophy and religion or whatever stirs our hearts. Without the turmoil of romance, this love is calming and brings tranquility.

        I wonder. Could there be a Platonic lover in your life that you have not yet nurtured?