Love locked...

'Love Locks' are curious things.

I've only had the chance to see them in person once and that was when we stumbled upon them in Italy.

They aren't to be confused with "Locks of Love" which is a fantastic charity that accepts hair donations to make wigs for cancer patients.

For a bit of a rabbit trail my niece Sophia donated her hair to Locks of Love.

Here she is pre-donation:

Here she is after the donation:

Still super cute. 

So back to Love Locks or as some people call them 'Love Padlocks.'

As stated above I first saw them in Italy. 

In Cinque Terre actually - which is one of my very favorite places on Earth. 

It translates as 'Five Lands."

It consists of the five towns of Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The towns are all joined by beautiful walking trails.    

Up until recently you could only get their by walking. 


Now trains go between the towns - which is kinda sad because the walks are just incredible. 

It was super hot the day we went but a waiter was nice enough to get us some "coke con ghiaccio' at a tiny restaurant we found along the way.

Everyone took turns peeking out these rock windows. 

There were locals fishing all along the trails. 

They used these crazy pulley systems to get their little boats down into the crevices along the coast. 

You can see the wire netting they had put up in some places to keep rocks from falling. 

It was a little disconcerting...

The trains disappeared into the mountains regularly carrying those that didn't want to walk farther up. 

And here walking along the path was where we found the curious sight I've mentioned:

There are the love locks! 

If you missed the Amazing Race episode in China with a love lock Road Block let me help you out with what they are:

So straight from the heart - if you'll excuse the pun - of Wikipedia I give you the definition of love locks/padlocks:

"Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to a fence or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. The most common places of Love padlocks are railings of bridges. It is suggested that the custom of 'locking a padlock and throwing away the key' probably originated in China."

It was sweet - if you're into that kind of thing. 

It's not my kinda thing but I get it. 

Besides Billy and I already have our own version of this.

See...

Way back in 1998 when Billy was having...

commitment issues...

there, I said it...

we broke up. 

I can't remember the exact wording of the break up but it may have involved the phrase:

"fish or cut bait"

Blame this man:

No, no. 

Not the one on the right. 

That's my Dad. 

He had no words on the subject. 

He rarely has words on the subject. 

Whatever the subject is. 

Anyway, bygones....still waters and all that stuff.

It's the one on the left. 

Thats my Uncle Bill. 

He overheard his daughter Laura Lee and I discussing the situation.

Here me and Laura Lee are in 1998 at the Jackson, Mississippi Zoo:

She was probably thinking:

 "If she mentions Billy one more time I'm pushing her into the lion pit."

Poor Laura Lee.

Anyway...

Uncle Bill heard us and said:

"You need to tell him to fish or cut bait."

He was right. 

So I told Billy that and...

he cut bait. 

Drat!

It was still the right thing to do. 

So, Billy...

Poor thing. 

He was confused. 

"That girl is driving me stinkin' crazy"

We lived less than a block from each other so it was hard to avoid him but I did. 

He would call and I wouldn't answer.

He would come over and I would hold my dog eared copy of The Rules and hide. 

He would...

Oh, you know the drill. 

Finally, one night he got so desperate to see me that he saw my bike chained to the Business Building and he...

He chained his bike to mine!

When I came out of the building I couldn't leave!

He had gone off in search of me but I was stuck there. 

He finally found me. 

Oh, the drama. 

It was a curious Spring, Summer and Fall. 

It was a curious courtship. 

Kinda like the love locks. 

Very curious.