A Counterpoint

Most of this week has been devoted to running around like a crazy person. I’m leaving tomorrow to visit family for a few days, and will be off the radar in Seattle for another couple of days as soon as I return. In the meantime, there is a hell of a lot to do to prepare for my absence. I am the sort of person who, when packing, suddenly finds it vitally important to get my bathroom and kitchen spotlessly clean. Even without that kind of diversion, I have a lot of moving parts in my life, and they all need to be ready to do without me for a short time.

Before I leap back into the fray, however, I want to do a little follow-up to my retail extravaganza from last week. Obviously I’ve had shopping on the brain lately. That theme was big fun to write about and to share with all of you. Luckily the window-shopping is at least half the fun, because I’m sure not buying everything I featured.

This recession is affecting just about everybody, and I am not immune to it. I know a lot of people are struggling to make ends meet. I am incredibly fortunate to be relatively untouched. I have steady sources of income, a nice place to live, everything I need and many of the things I want. I have supportive family and friends, who not only indulge me in my material desires from time to time, but would take good care of me if I lost my job. Nevertheless, I am well aware that this could all change overnight in this economic climate. I am being much more careful with my pennies, questioning luxuries, putting more in savings, and investing for the future.

So as a counterpoint to all the retail lust, let’s take a break from our busy day, and focus for a moment on the priceless experiences that give meaning to the material.

The breath of a lover on my skin, the scent of longing and lust and fulfillment, kissing, touching, sliding across one another

Moonlight across my bed, the blue light of dark-o’clock when I’ve stayed up with you all night, the wonderment of connection

Love letters from years ago, the words that reignite the intensity and remind me of the beauty shared

Your moans of pain and pleasure as I dig my fingers into your skin and squeeze

Rope gliding across my skin, cinching tight, binding and freeing me, commanding my body in words it can’t ignore, releasing me from gravity for a few moments

Hands pulling my hair, dragging me to my knees, slapping my face, cradling my head, telling me in a thousand ways that I am cherished