the chicago river bridge on a friday morning

i used to lay out in my parents' backyard during the summer and soak in the sun until my skin was slick with sweat and the color of copper. i remember a friend would sometimes stop by and surprise me. i opened my eyes and looked up at his figure with the sun pouring over his silhouette. his features - all of the details on him - became this whitish gray wash. no match for the shards of sunshine coming from behind him.

that was how the buildings were this morning on my way to work. i was seated facing east out the side windows of the bus as the 22 cruised over the bridge downtown. i had the feeling once again of soaking in sunlight with shadows passing over me from the figures above. the skyscrapers tower over the river in bunches. gathered into cliques, like high school teens. their signature straight, decisive lines blurred by a gray wash, unable to stand up to a backful of sunlight any more than my friend's eyes and nose could. the scene is a softened, artful photograph, though it's never actually captured.

the sun feels so good. i've been in a good mood all day because of it.

we got a new orchid for my desk. mostly white, massive petals with a hint of pink in the center. gorgeous.

last night will and i had a very lengthy, deep conversation. we discussed life, death, religion and politics and it was amazing. our brains are the same. it's a night i won't forget. it was monumental, the way he and i felt the same way about such important things. a weight was lifted from my back, and blurred features were made totally clear and exquisitely beautiful.

love.