Full Circle

For fourteen years, our little family has been just Gus and me. No roommates, no pets, never so much as a gulping goldfish has kept us company. I suppose one could say our family circle has been more like a rectangle these many years, as each of my hands is held in his, strong, soft and sure. It's nice here, in our little box, comfortable, quiet and all to ourselves. The rare opportunity to live long and deeply without interruption with another person, his shoulder, arm and outstretched hands melding into mine until one can hardly be distinguished from the other, much less separated.

And so, in the days of late, it has been with great wonder that the two of us have begun the process of extracting one hand each from the other, slowly creaking one set side of our elongated square open to welcome not one, but two into our small midst. Each of us readying to reach out for a new hand that will become as familiar as the one just let go. In this, a true circle will now be formed as we begin a new journey, anchored in the same love and commitment that has guided us this far, as we await the arrival of twin babies on, or likely before, February 26, 2011.