Intimacy

Intimacy might not be a four letter word, but it is a four-syllable word for, ''Here are my heart and soul. Please grind them into hamburger and enjoy. '' It's both desired and feared, difficult to live with  and impossible to live without. Intimacy also comes attached to life's three R's: Relatives, romance and regrets. There are some things you can't escape. And other things you just don't want to know.

You are the first person they see in the morning. You say please. You say thank you. You apologize for waking them up. You make them feel good about you. Why is that important? 'Cause then they'll talk to you and tell you what's wrong. Why is that important? Because then you can tell them how you are what they need to know. And why is that important? Because if you can't communicate with the ones you love, you won't make it through the hard stuff.

I wish there were a rule book for intimacy. Some kind of a guide that could tell you when you've crossed the line. You don't want lose anyone like that. It would be nice if you could see it coming. And I don't know, be able to fit it on a map and plan it's route. You take intimacy where you can get it and keep it as long as you can.

And as for rules. Maybe there are none. Maybe the rules of intimacy are something you have to define for yourself.