I marvel at proximity – close, distant, I have a new dog, a Covid pup who only understands his pack, us, are always present, he’s never left alone, in close proximity. He will curl into a small ball at my elbow on the couch, or in my reading chair, which looks over the wetlands behind our yard. He tucks in; his proximity a short bark away from merge.
I marvel at proximity – in its absence the sense of vacant distance is profound. The world undefined is filled with negative space. My grasps-out touch nothing and for moments of time I believe I must not be worthy of proximity. I don’t deserve someone occupying same space. Proximity makes one think of closeness, but it’s starkest in relief against the vacant background.
I marvel at proximity – alteration, change or shift perspective. It provides warmth or coolness. It is tantalizing or demure. It fills or flails. It defines our lives. I live near the… The family next door is… The gas station at the corner… Three thousand miles from my hometown… My mother passed… and proximity is of such vast character it encompasses even the missing in time.
I marvel at proximity – On the tip of my tongue… At the tip of my finger… Off the top of my head… and proximity propels us to act or think or feel and all we do or think or feel ignores the need for proximity as THE catalyst.
I marvel at proximity – it feels comforting… it feeeeels confining… it feels like body odor and bad breath in the morning before we brush our teeth or take a shower in proximity. I wash your back… you wash mine… I make cool contact… you make it hot… It affects our temperature and our attitude. It makes us believers or cynics and we sometimes wonder where I begin and you leave off.
I marvel at proximity – and no matter how many years – remember proximity includes time – our proximity, close to merging in this proximity of space and time is proximity as it should be.
Only proximity ensures we are sated.