My local Rite Aid has suddenly been covered in sparkly red tinsel and doused in the sensual scent of pre-packaged milk chocolate.  That can only mean one thing…it’s almost Valentine’s Day.  The day lovers love to love and those not in love, love to hate.

But my favorite kind of love has always been the one full of strife; so tormented by passion that eruptions of emotion and mad displays of affection practically tear the heart in two.  The movie that, of course, ruined me on this kind of love is the Nicolas Cage masterpiece, Moonstruck.  Every time I watch it, I am reminded of the kind of love that I love to love.

So here are my absolute favorite quotes from the my all-time favorite movie about passion and romance and that damn moon.

I see a wolf in everyone I meet and I see a wolf in you.

I can’t sleep anymore; it’s too much like death.

When he smiles, I can’t see his teeth.  What is he hiding?

Rose. Rose. Rooose.

Who’s dead?

Nobody, Loretta’s getting married.

Again?

I have no money.

You’re rich as Roosevelt.  You’re just cheap.

The moon, brings the man to the woman.  Capesh?

How’s the mother?

She’s dying.  But I can still hear her big mouth.

What is life?  They say bread is life.  And I bake bread…bread, bread.  And I sweat.   And shovel this stinking dough in and out of this hot hole in the wall and I should be so happy, huh, sweetie?

I lost my hand!  I lost my bride!  Johnny has his hand, Johnny has his bride!

Is it just a matter of time before a man opens his eyes and gives up his one dream, his one dream of happiness?  Maybe.

This is the most tormented man I have ever known.  I’m in love with this man.  He doesn’t know that.  Cause I never told him cause he could never love anybody since he lost his hand and his girl.

What’s a matter with you, I mean you think you’re the only one who ever shed a tear?

And now?  Now you’re afraid because you know the big part of you is a wolf that has the courage to bite off its own hand to save itself from the trap of the wrong love.

Son of a bitch!

Where are you taking me?

To the bed.

I was dead.

Me too.

What about Johnny?

You’re mad at him.  Take it out on me. Take your revenge out on me.  Leave nothing left for him to marry.  Leave nothing but the skin over my bones.

Alright, alright.  There will be nothing left.

Old man, you give those dogs another piece of my food, I’m gonna kick you till you’re dead.

What did you do?

What are you talking about?

You ruined my life.

That’s impossible; it was ruined when I got here.

You got them bad eyes like a gypsy.

I love two things.  I love you and I love the opera.  Now if I could have the two things that I love together for one night, I would be satisfied to give up, oh christ, to give up the rest of my life.

You haven’t once said you liked my dress.

I like your dress; it’s very bright.

Cosmo, I just want you to know that no matter what you do you’re going to die like everyone else.

Okay, you tell me my life, I’ll tell you yours.  I’m a wolf.  You run to the wolf in me; that don’t make you no lamb.

Playing it safe is just about the most dangerous thing a woman like you can do.

Why didn’t you wait for the right man again?

Because he didn’t come.

I’m here!

You’re late.

Love don’t make things nice.  It ruins everything.  It breaks your heart.

Snowflakes are perfect.  Stars are perfect.  Not us.

A man understands one day that his life is built on nothing.  And that’s a bad, crazy day.

Your life is not built on nothing.  Te’amo.

What am I gonna tell him?

Tell him the truth, Loretta.  They find out anyway.

Loretta, in time, you’ll see that this was for the best.

In time you’ll drop dead and I’ll come to your funeral in a red dress.

You love him, Loretta?

Ma, I love him awful.

Oh god, that’s too bad.

Happy almost full moon and Valentine’s Day!