The Company I Keep

Both Tiny Dog and New Old Dog like to keep me company when I am upstairs to use my elliptical trainer. New Old Dog stalwartly protects his Man Cave, and Tiny Dog makes use of the cushiest of dog beds. 

Passing By

Twice this past month, I've seen Cherished Friend quite briefly. The first time was in an airport far from this desert land, where our paths fortuitously crossed as I went in one direction and he in another. The second time was yesterday evening through this morning, when his personal activities brought him briefly through my corner of the desert. It was, as always, lovely to see him.

In quotidian days, I am primarily -- even exclusively -- defined by my relationships to certain other people. Ofhusband. Mother of Offspring. Daughter, Daughter-in-law. Sister, sister-in-law. Even at work, many of my colleagues knew me first as wife of Beloved Husband before I became an employee, and that relationship colors how I am perceived in the office. Such is the way it is. My relationships with these others govern to a great extent my activities and how I move through life; and that is as it ought to be, for these people are my Family and I love them.

Friendship is defined differently: in forming a friendship, we are not confined by the social expectations and obligations placed upon family relationships. Friendship is unencumbered, unfettered. It a willing openness of self with another person, defined not by blood or marriage, but by affinity.

Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity. - Kahlil Gibran

Friendship gives us an opportunity to be ourselves, without preconceived expectations. It adds a new component to our lives -- an element of depth and color to our existence. Life is more full with a friend. And especially with Cherished Friend.

I shall always be grateful for his presence in my life. Even, and perhaps especially, in those brief moments in passing.

A friend is a second self, so that our consciousness of a friend's existence...makes us more fully conscious of our own existence. ― Aristotle

Erotic Cowboy

Orville Peck, about whom I've written before here, has released a new video for one of his songs from the Pony album:  Hope to Die.

Oh. My.

I'm not a particularly visual person, yet even I can see the marvelous visual images:

The flow of the fringe of his costumes.
The curve of his hands and his wrists, and his sinuous arm movements. (Most men vastly underestimate, I think, the allure of hands and forearms. Orville Peck, though, is kind enough to show his to us.)
The contrast of the dark mask and the dark bandana at his throat with the glow of his skin.
His sensuous dancing, reminiscent of flamenco dance crossed with traditional western line dancing.

And his smooth voice. Ah, that voice.

Thank you, Orville Peck, for bringing your music to life so beautifully.

The Night We Met

Tonight's earworm: The Night We Met (Lord Huron).  I may have posted this song before; I warrants hearing again nevertheless.

I found the lyric video for this song on YouTube this evening. It is just right for this song.

I am not the only traveler
Who has not repaid his debt
I've been searching for a trail to follow again
Take me back to the night we met
I hope you enjoy.

Double Decker Donut Dogs

Vide Noir

Tonight's earworm: the title track from Lord Huron's latest album: Vide Noir. 

Vide Noir: the black void.

I have given some thought to the Void.  You know the Void: it is that place of despair into which we all fall from time to time.

I have learned that I know what the Void is. English will not do to describe the Void, and so I will name it in another tongue:

gan ghrá

Now that I can name the Void, I can fully embrace it, make it a part of myself -- and by doing so, I will no longer be in danger of falling into the Void, for it will merely be falling further into myself.

The Void, like the creature called forth by Sparrowhawk in A Wizard of Earthsea, will no longer pursue me when I have caught it and brought it into myself.

Imagine how peaceful it will be.

Facebook Ads Strike Again

Oh, Facebook. WHY have you shown me this ad? Not a soul wants to see me wearing this... 'outfit'. Myself included.