People and Person

I have no idea how many acquaintances I’ve made in my life….many hundreds at the least.

My address list carries a few hundred names. I am close with perhaps fifty of them.

I’ve had two marriages. Both were failures. One failure was of my making, the other had little to do with me (she just could not do marriage). The first was for young love, the second was for …I’m not quite sure.

My parents seemed reasonable publicly, but were troubled individually. My mother had electroshock therapy a number of times in my early childhood, my father was a literal troublemaker.

As a consequence of my parenting, I am skeptical of closeness – particularly with women.

My true friendships have been narrow – rich and valuable – but narrow.

Which brings me to a specific person.

The person is a much younger woman. I’ve known her for perhaps five years.

I see her regularly but never much thought about her personhood or character.

In the past year she has begun to have an important place in my life. No change in our relationship – casual and periodic – but her meaning to me has grown significantly.

She is open (but careful), thoughtful to a fault (but readily claims her space and opinions), and equitable in her friendships (everyone receives the same care).

No presumptions, no pretensions, no agendas, no expectations.

She is rare.