Full Circle

The day began with a chilly mist and a liaison with a trusted friend to discuss business. The business of my private life. I’ll confess the talks went better than expected. Including a walk on pink paths under arches of iron laced with vines and everywhere tall palm trees and snoozing dogs.

As with opening any door another door, different shape and size, reveals itself directly behind the first, and on it goes.

In the lobby of the smart hotel a man with a walking stick is a relative. He would be King, if this were still a Kingdom. I neared and introduced myself. In the habit of being approached by strangers I felt his warm relief emanate when he heard my name and he pulled me close to embrace, exclaiming, “A cousin!” My early training had me reaching for his hand and raising it to my lips, in full automatic mode I kissed his hand and I curtsied, as I had many times in the altered universe of a childhood. My grandparents, on my mother’s side, maintained an exquisite level of formality which never seemed strange to me at the time. In retrospect, however, strangely okay.

By midday the mist evaporated revealing cerulean skies woven with strands of pearly clouds.

Later, another variable, a free radical of a marvel, developed before my eyes, a friend from the distant past. To see her in person rather than as characters on my computer screen was an immeasurable pleasure. We sat close and exploded with laughter for hours and the quarter century separation dissolved in our raucous joy and zealous hugs. Day traveled into night lit by red lights embedded in a fountain and warmed by love.

Today I fly away, leaving nothing behind. Instead I walk carrying everything I came with and so much more. Turns out the night never ended!

 

Image by John Martini©

www.johnmartini.com

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