It wouldn't be hard to do—many times I just play something on the piano when the words aren't helping.
My students seem to listen better with their eyes.
I meet my two friends online every two weeks. One of them I went to school with, the other I’ve never met in person. All three of us reside in different parts of the continent.
Far away, close together.
I’ve been trying to listen more at these meetings, ask more questions. I found myself talking too much, because it's hard to stop when you're actually paid attention to.
I think a lot.
My head is too full of thoughts, mostly of the future—what plans to make, books to read, things to write (like this essay).
But the train stops whenever my dogs appear. Whether they stare at me or settle down by my side, my mind comes to a standstill.
Their presence distracts me by signaling that the present is all there is.
My favorite trick is 'watch me.' With these two magic words, I become all that exists to them in this world (until they get their treats).
So I try to lengthen this moment as long as I can by making them wait (unless they start drooling).
The earphones come on when my wife comes home, I can’t deal with the distractions from her phone otherwise. There’s no escape, our place too small for me to find the quiet, private space I'll suffocate without.
To tell you the truth, it drives me mad. I wish I could take her phone, slam it on the ground, hammer it into a thousand particles, put the remains in a lead box, place it under a steamroller and drop the flattened evidence in the middle of an ocean.
Far, far away from here.
Something happens every time she visits her family overseas.
When she contacts me through the screen, we have an actual conversation—mostly her talking and me listening. It's not that much different than when she's here, but the distance brings us nearer.
There are thousands of miles between us, yet I feel more connected to her than ever.
Far away, close together.
Time passes too quickly when she’s away. Selfishly, I wish her absence would extend for a while longer.
