Normalize Saying 'I Love You to your friends'- yes, but why is this weird (especially online)?

Let's close out 2020 and open 2021 with

I Love You

There's a meme: Nomralize telling your friends 'I Love You.' It's kind; it's ambitious; it's an antidote to the isolation of 2020, but also, going forward. a meme I've seen a couple of times, now.

Let's talk. Why is this awkward? Is it too friendly? Passively needy? Embarrassing- uncool? Too privately associated or complexly associated? (I mean, we love ice cream, but how many friends would tell you'd enjoy, licking them?) Or, do you do it all the time- and see the creatures of the world actively through that lens?
(Say "I Love You." Not necessarily, lick your friends.) Let's be clear, we're stuck online this year, just as I moved into town and hoped to make and spend time with friends- I hesitate when it feels like it might cause jealousy, or the addressee might be concerned about that- I could be misunderstood because I'm a guy. I think you can clarify it when you see someone in person- sometimes! Once you write it, speak it, show it- can you really help how the person takes it? You don't control it. What need? He or she will take it the way they think you mean what you said. What ever intention it serves, whatt you say will have its own shade of meaning, to you.
I'm usually happiest when I am inspired to share an insight, to stimulate a strong spirit or mind. That is the work of Love. Material contributions, when they make a difference, or time and talents; also great.
But, if both parties really feel the benevolence, sometimes there's no more direct way to share. "Love y'all" can be OK (I mean, 'uncomplicated.') Sometimes, you're so entertaining in a situation, someone- even someone who doesn't know you well- might say "I love you!" If it's not awkward to them to say it...then what's wrong? But sometimes a more superficial expression tugs on the yearnings of a person who would really like to feel loved. Is that wrong? If the person has a conflict or difficulty with saying it back- and they feel obligated to say it back- is it still right for you? Worth the weird? And do you say it, because you want to hear it back? You can't be attached to reciprocation. I have a lot of love, but right at this point, I don't feel like dealing with further alienation.
As far as guy to guy goes, we really ought to just get over worrying about it. We should all try to express a little more love. The #1 popular American song of 1976 had the chorus: "Iiiiiii- Looooooove- Yoouuuuuu"- repeated. (I've just been discovering the 70s pop/rock music of Paul McCartney lately, and if you don't recognize it, that's from a song I dismissed from its title alone, once: "Silly Love Songs." But I 'love' the stage version by Wings in 1976, I do! I don't really feel like most of these people really love me, but I reckon a couple do. Maybe what matters is just what we feel in our own hearts, not whether or not it's reciprocated. Maybe how often you say it to people outside of your romantic or familial situation should, and does, vary.
I do wish I could get in on this, though. I feel positivity towards many people who can only afford a tiny margin for me. Hell, I felt some kind of love for the man I motioned over to my car to give him a couple of bucks in traffic. I have a lot of that sort of spiritual love.
We've talked about this a couple of times since I started writing on this subject, my wife and I. She made the point tonight: you want to be truly genuine. There's nothing wrong with feeling love for someone and telling them, if it is so. But does it seem to 'cheapen' the expression? Does it make it seem less...special? Powerful?- to the people to whom you DO mean it. So if it feels 'by rote'- if it is done from habit, but lacks the genuine emotion- if expressing an emotion feels 'off' for this reason- then maybe you can't do it. Sometimes it's appropriate to the situation you're in: even if you just had a really great platonic time, or when consoling a grieving person. If you know it might make the person feel awkward, sometimes you should skip it, just for consideration of that person's feelings. If you truly love them, you care about how they take things. Maybe I don't feel close enough to anyone anymore except a few people I've known for years and years. There's different kinds of Love- maybe even a type for every single relationship.
But I was sure to tell my guy friend in our video call today. Still more of a 'we love you.' Of course we do: what an unflagging mutual support we've shared.
I hope it changes. I've been pretty sad about the way this pandemic's turned out, lol. Not alone, there. Writing about it, more than once reflecting, has taken me on a bit of a walk. "What's wrong with that?" Thanks. Be Chill, Cease ill

A conversation with David Kempf: They Laughed At Me, his surreal new comedy novel

Here's author David Kempf, just as the snows hit Pennsylvania in mid-December, 2020. We talk about his previous work, like Dark Fiction and Damned Fiction; how he's found his way as a writer; and a little on his personal life and work. He's gotten reviews and pull-quotes from successful authors, and lives in a part of Pennsylvania flush with busy, talented writers. Here, he talks about what inspired this particular book, about a stand-up comic on house arrest, slowly losing his marbles.

Here's About David on Amazon, where you can also order the book of your choice: https://www.amazon.com/David-Kempf/e/B0037BMI40%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
When he's not processing words meant to frighten, tickle, or make you think, he's having the time of his life with his son, or helping patients in need at a local rehab facility. He's written both horror and children's books in the past, so this is something of a a departure. His Facebook statuses have often gotten me chuckling, so I have faith he can write funny material. But what will you think? Has he pulled it off? You can discover more about the new book here: https://www.myindiemuse.com/product/they-laughed-at-me-by-david-kempf/ Go straight to Amazon to learn more and order your FREE copy 12/22/20!