VARIATIONS ON A THEME.

Those of us who, nearly thirty years ago, knew why Mira Ward was hiding in the women's room also know why, today, Bridget Jones is keeping her diary.

We've been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Yes, times have changed---but people's emotions haven't. Each new generation of romance writers brings fresh voices, but, seldom, fresh ideas to the genre, because, ultimately, whether our heroes are dangerous alpha males or nice guys who finish last, our heroines are kick-butt bombshells or the girls next door, romance has always been and will always be about finding a mate, keeping a mate, and/or, yes, losing a mate.

All the rest of it---the whos, whats, whens, wheres, whys, and hows of it---are simply variations on this age-old theme.

And what's wrong with that? Romance has crossed over into every single other genre because since time immemorial, we, as human beings, have always been able to relate both to it and to the lack of it in our own lives. Unless we are beyond the bounds of normal society, we all want to love and to be loved.

St. Valentine's Day is the time we have set aside during our year to pay tribute both to that and to all those we do love and who love us. It's an especially wonderful time for me, because not only is it St. Valentine's Day, but it's also the day my son, Shane, was born (Happy Birthday, Shane!) and the day my husband, John, proposed (I said "Yes" to him five years ago, and if I had it all to do over again, I'd say "Yes" to him now!).

Romance runs the gamut of emotions---from thrilling high-school crushes to agonizing broken hearts. In the end, whether we are the wiser for it, we are inevitably the richer. It really is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

On this St. Valentine's Day and every day, I hope you all have romance in your lives!