Diamond

In recent weeks, Jill and I have been increasingly aware of the all the things couples are ‘spozed’ to do. Somewhere under the pile of all these circumstances, though, we came to notice that there already IS a gorgeous crystal clarity that is the space between us, as a couple, the same of course, between all of us. Nothing to make, no effort required, undeniable and indestructible. The rest is just so much circumstantial cloud cover. So we made that space our diamond and got on with the practice of keeping its vastness clear, trusting that if we just keep clearing, the best of each and all of us will shine through, practicing together and sharing it out as best we can.

That is what we aim to test, anyway, as we’ve made our engagement official, last Wednesday. We had an outrageously good dinner overlooking Chicago’s Water Tower, then went down into the open, public plaza and garden space that surrounds the rock and flow of that, Chicago’s oldest building. I made a quick presentation and proposal, which she warmly accepted(!), as the rest of the world rushed by us unnoticing, the trees rocking and rustling in post-storm Chicago blustering and late September chill. The diamond moment done, circumstances drove us home to pack her up for London again, 5am alarm, and we’re off to the airport. She’s due back home for good on Friday. Grateful and excited. Pow.