Hi there, come on in.  It's very late, everyone is tired and a bit worn down after another long and active day.  Taking a moment to stop by means you might have something to say?

Speech is silver, silence is golden.  We've all heard that - but tonight your speech is golden and my silence necessary to hear your voice.  The sofa is soft, the lights are low and the dog is snoring loudly enough to drown out the music in the background.  Put your feet up and relax, you deserve it tonight as much as any one else on any other evening.

If you feel like talking, I'm here.  If you want quiet contemplation, you've got it.  If you crave a hug my arms are open.  Just let me know, what do you need?   

Hi there, come on in.  It's a rediculous time of the morning, so if you have a second I need to tell you something.  In real life, if you don't mind too much.

Firstly, thanks for stopping in for our usual get together.  I have truly, genuinely missed that this evening.  Real life caused severe storms that have caused my internet connection to fail completely and then become highly sporatic.  I may be able to send this, or may not.  If I can, and yet do not respond to any friend who answers, please know it is not that I wish to ignore you. Never will that be true.  Just that I simply can't.  It seems so wrong that the internet connections that fail can defeat the connections between us that succeed.

If I missed you this time, there will be another opportunity soon.  I promise.  Because I miss you.  Dare I ask, have you missed me tonight?

Thanks again for the brief allowance to enter the foray of "real" -

Melissa

Hi there, come on in.  Yea, I'm waiting for Sox.  She just headed out a few minutes ago - there she is.  Come in the house.  My day?  Don't ask.  Yours had to be better and hopefully shorter, so get settled and we'll talk about it.  What can I get for you?  Coming right up, no problem at all.  Sox, go get in your bed.  Now.  Let everybody find a place to plant themselves before you start stirring up the dirt.  I love you, too - now go.

It's drizzling rain tonight.  Not a firm rain, not a soft rain, not a thunderstruck rain ... just a drizzle.  Funny, I feel like that sometimes, you?  When I can't quite figure out what I am I'm a drizzle.  Just a side note of who I'm supposed to be.  The ting of the tambourine.  The vibration of the drum.  Not fully myself yet totally content to be a remnant, a piece making up the whole.  It's the pieces that matter, you know.  Drizzle proves that, in the end it is still wet.  It looks different than most rain and is rediculed by the storm.  It's a smaller piece of the puzzle but still creates an end result worth consideration.  The clouds that sweep through it know.  The breeze that carries it laughes at the detractors as so much nonsense.  The rainbow really struts it's stuff.  And the drizzle lives on to quietly moisturize our world.  Not asking for more than to be a part of the overall condition.  That's how I feel, sometimes.

Speaking of puzzles, did you see the one I started over there?  Twenty-five hundred pieces and I'm proud to claim that I have correctly joined twelve.  It's an odd table I never use, so I thought I'd just leave the puzzle there for anyone who wanders by and feels the need to frustrate themselves.  Those things can draw you in, can't they?

Hi there, come on in.  Great to see you!  Sox, move.  Yea, mine was too.  But let's put that behind us and settle in for awhile.  Sounds like we all need to take a deep breath and relax.  The usual?  Sure, find a spot somewhere and I'll get it for you.  Don't be silly, my pleasure.

I had a friend today feel safe enough to confide something important to them, while not wanting it "out there".  He knew without question that no one would ever hear it from me.  That touched me, and reminded me of some of the conversations we had here last night.  I will never betray a confidence, and I imagine most believe in the same doctrine.  Problem is, imagining it does not make it so.  I've learned that the hard way through the years, have you?  You're right, it does hurt when that loyalty in which you place your barest self is betrayed.  Trust is one of those emotions we don't suffer easily, it takes time and confidence in someone we love.  The very insecurities that make love so difficult make trust practically unattainable.  But how can we grow and become more human along the way if we don't let the walls fall down now and then?  Exposing ourselves.  Frightening.  Terrifying, in fact.  Stripping away the layers of personna to reveal your soul to someone you trust.  If there is someone in your life in whom you can place your trust, your very life in their hands, tell them you love them.  Because they truly love you. 

What else is there?    

Hi there, come on in.  I'm really glad to see you tonight, it's been another long and active day.  Yours, too?  Believe me, I understand.  Take a load off, let me get you something.  The sofa is yours, unless you prefer the ugly blue chair.  Wherever you wind up, I promise to find you - OK?

I always promise to find you.  Wherever you are, whatever you need.  We all should feel that promise from someone.  Just to know that when you need help a hand is there.  Stretching out in your direction, just within reach.  Fingers grasping for yours and touching the pulse in your wrist that threatens to abandon you.  Just in the fraction of a second before it does.  A shoulder soft enough to cry on and strong enough to take the blows.  A smile meant just for you in a private moment, a hearty laugh created by your genius.  Someone to say you matter when the world seems to be tearing you apart.  A gentle soul to help pick up the pieces and put them together again.  I promise to find you ... always.

Sox, please get down.  I keep asking but you keep ignoring me.  Oh well, it's all about the love.  But do you have to knock them over?

Hi there, come on in.  Oh, sure, Sox loves her!  She doesn't spend time with her four-legged friends nearly as often as she'd like.  Just let me grab another water bowl - may I get something for you?  No problem, grab a seat somewhere.  No, don't worry, I'll find you. 

This frig situation is rediculous.  After the watermelon went in the other night - oh, must cut that tonight! - I told myself to clean it out the next day.  Well, it's the next day after the next day and, at the risk of repeating myself, this frig situation is rediculous.  Why must something turn colors and grow fur while wrapped in Saran wrap before it attracts my attention?  Apparently I managed to completely ignore it while it was still edible and had once been a part of something I enjoyed.  Now I don't recognize it and find it alittle scary.  Sometimes, I'll throw out the entire thingy with the lid that doesn't fit (probably the wrong lid, but that's another story) just because I'm afraid to open it.  Or come within five feet of that neon green glow pulsating within.  I really try to keep the frig clean and ready for new arrivals, but don't always live up to the challenge.  So if you're putting something in there, and notice a small plate holding within its bounds a piece of something only previously seen by NASA covered in plastic wrap - or ill-fitting tin foil - feel free to throw it in the garbage can.  Plate and all.  Don't worry, if you go with the odds you're doing me a favor. 

Watermelon, anyone?  Would you rather have a slice with rind, a handle if you will - or some big 'ole chunks?  The other half is mine.  I have a big spoon and a salt shaker in my immediate future.  No, I'm not!  It would only be selfish if I ate the slices, chunks AND other half.  Ouch!  Was that nice?  OK, guys and gals, chunks in the bowl with toothpicks right there and a few slices on the platter.  I really will share the other half, you know, just being silly.  Thanks, you're sweet.  Wait.  Where did I put the salt?