The Problem with Perfection

   I memorized Shakespeare's sonnet 130 for my boyfriend, Joe.  Even though it is about a woman, I thought that it was appropriate because the speaker is saying that he loves his mistress, despite her flaws.  To think that you are flawed and someone loves you anyhow is, in a weird way, even more flattering than if they just said that you are perfect.  You can also love a person's for their flaws.  Think, you wouldn't want to date someone who is perfect because we, as humans, are competitive in nature.

   After I finished the last lines, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare."  He stared at me with open eyes.  He was shocked at my memorization (I have a bad memory and as it goes, after I said it, I forgot the poem).  He gave me a big hug because he knew that it had taken me some time.  He then jokingly added, "You know, you're not perfect either."