Did I Tell You the Story About the Time

Yesterday, I had my weekly cross-country FaceTime with my best friend. Our calls cover the hard hitting topics like I don’t like the moisturizer I bought last week and what did your coworker say and what are your thoughts on the jorts epidemic sweeping fashion trends this season. When we spoke last, I walked her beat by beat through my latest trip to my strip mall nail salon I visit once a month, where I was dissatisfied yet again with my own choices in nail color and design.

What I love most about this friend is that she reminds that intimacy is knowing about the bad experience at the nail salon and if you’re reading or not reading and what you think about jorts. We show love by knowing about the little things in the midst of all the big things. She reminds me of this poem, ”Intimacy These Days,” by Jess Janz:

How is the heaviness today / how is your coffee / what are you having for breakfast / here is a funny picture I thought you’d like / here is that sweater I said I might buy / haha look at this dog / this house / this article / this recipe / did I tell you about my dinner / did I tell you what my mother said / did I tell you the story about the time / how was your walk / how was your call with your sister / what show are you watching / what show should I watch / will I like it / will I feel something / have you felt anything lately / are you sleeping / are you eating / are you reading anything good / I don’t think anyone is washing their hair regularly / I don’t think anyone realizes the weight that they are carrying / how many sweatpants is too many sweatpants for one person to own / do you want to talk about it / should we try breathing exercises / should we try making bread / should we try becoming crafty / should we try unplugging it / should we try closing our eyes / should we try opening them