A week away

I’m coming to the end of what’s turned out to be a rather lovely week in Denver.

On the face of it, it should have been a disaster. I’ve not really had enough good-quality, relaxed time lately with either Haron or Emma Jane for a week in the States to have been anything other than an utter inconvenience. Indeed, I’d have swapped the US trip in an instant for a couple of days with them. I’ve missed each of them terribly badly.

I’ve worked pretty hard, during working days starting at 7am and finishing near midnight. I missed a lovely party back home yesterday, with many of my dearest friends – and, no matter how hard I try to be rational, there’s nothing that depresses me more than being away due to work commitments whilst my favourite people are having fun at gatherings I could have attended: it feels so very unfair. (Albeit, actually, I take great pleasure in hearing that they are happy and having fun).

And yet… And yet. The upgrades came in thick and fast (business class on the plane over, a suite in the hotel). Denver itself’s a most tolerable place to wander: some fab restaurants – Marlowe’s, in particular, having become a regular haunt – and a truly gorgeous bookstore (The Tattered Cover). Work went well: people were kind enough to heap praise on my conference presentation, whilst various (important, longer-term) Machiavellian schemes of mine moved on in entirely the right directions.

I bought and read one of the best, most insightful books about love and relationships that I’ve ever come across (“The Lover’s Dictionary”, by David Levithan). And I’m 50-odd pages into another truly brilliant piece of writing (“Lunch in Paris”, by Elizabeth Brand).

Oh, and I outed myself on the poly front to my American business partner. We’re extremely close, as friends as well as colleagues: it was time he knew. He couldn’t have been more understanding or relaxed about it. I feel so relieved to have done so.

Kink-wise? I met up with a dear friend, Bridget, after too many years’ gap – and was so touched to be invited to meet her gorgeous family (partners, kids, dogs!). After much hunting, I eventually found some implements, from a leather worker at a local craft market. (“That belt is made from bridle leather: it’s the thickest type.” “I know”). I mentally corrupted the piano on every street corner – such a nice idea: next up, an implement rack at every junction?

I’ve had lovely online chats with various dear friends, old and newer.  And I’ve swapped some gorgeous, touching emails, texts, calls and DMs with my two girls. I feel very loved, and very in love. I’ve been missing them terribly: yet the very fact I’ve missed them so has merely underlined how much I love them, and how much I have to be thankful for. All in all, it’s been a good week.