Before you slip into unconsciousness........I'd like to have another kiss

Aura can be felt, touched like fingertips on the back of a hand. Aura breathes but sometimes holds its breath, sometimes is light and airy and sometimes is a thin layer of armor shutting off penetration. Physical touch can pass right through it, it can be denied. Subconscioius decisions we make, who gets in, who doesn't. It's easier to touch than to be close without touching. The person who shakes your hand, rests a hand on your shoulder, kisses you, finds it more difficult to stand face to face, inches away. Get in someones face, they back up.

Initial impressions, assessing, assimilating, assuming and processing to gauge how we react and respond to someone. Not foolproof but those who really see usually get it right enough. It's in the details. Some never see it, some don't care, some can't see beyond themselves. It's always there if you want to see. Usually we don't. There are too many coming at us too fast. It's too crowded to focus and there is no time to absorb and to stop and look. There was a time when so few crossed our paths that they all had a place of import. That may be true for some isolated souls but not many. Now it's all fast food or please wait to be seated and fast cars and lane changing and exit ramps and strip malls and every aisle looks the same. Too many to matter. Neatly planned and franchised and aimed at the most common denominator which is any form of currency.

Touching is different here but it's a good touching. I'm open minded here. I like it here, I feel good here. I listen here and I get heard here. If I like you, you're going to stay liked. There is a sense of loyalty here. People come back. I have relatives here in town that I never talk to, never see. That doesn't happen here. Don't fuck with my circle. We'll close in on you and squash you like a grape and spit the seeds in your face. If there is any shit to be given out here we'll do it ourselves so fuck off. Most of the criticism doled out here is self induced which is the most theraputic. You get too far down though and folks are gonna throw you a rope and yank you back up.

The boy and I have a really nice map of the US on the wall in the den. One of those glossy Rand McNally ones like they have in school. Last night I stuck push pins into some of the places I know you are. AZ, CO, UT, PA, CA, NY, IL, OK, GA, MA, IN, OH, BC. Recognize yourself? The boy asked me what it was and I told him these are all the places you need to have friends. He gave me that you aren't like the other dads look.

If I missed you just tell me where to put the pin.