Time to dust again.

Time to caress my house,

to stroke all its surfaces.

I want to think of it as a kind of lovemaking,

…the chance to appreciate by touch

what I live with and cherish.

The rags come out – old soft pajama legs, torn undershirts, frayed towels. They are still of use. It is precisely because they have exhausted their original use that they have come to this honorable task.

Rag in hand, I feel along each piece of furniture I live with, and luster returns to the old sideboard, to the chair legs and the lamp stands. It is as if by touch they are revealed and returned to themselves. Strange that in the dumbness of inanimate things one can feel so much silent response. What then of us animate creates?

We are so many-surfaced: bumpy, smooth, prickly, rough, silky, hairy, spiny, soft, scaly, furry, feathery, sharp, and on and on. And don’t we all want to be stroked in some way …to be restored to ourselves by touch as much as by sight or smell or sound?

I want to be a lover of surfaces all day today. Let this be the prayer: that my hands not be ashamed to give and to receive a passionate exchange …to luster and be lustered… and so come to feel (Spirit’s) inward touch.

Gunilla Norris

Recently I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Cowboy Junkies and Tori Amos play, gone to a handful of BBQ’s, spent a good deal of time with family and friends, attended a deeply touching outdoor wedding ceremony, found some great new park walks with my doggie, reconnected with old friends and have kept myself quite busy with my never ending project list.  I hope that you are having a blessed and beautiful summertime as well!

I wanted to shoot out a special note on two important happenings:

There is a new chapter of SWOP-USA which can be found at http://www.NW-SWOP.org

Sex Workers Outreach Project-USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.

I’ve been putting in hours and dollars to help this fledgling chapter become established in the NorthWest and urge you to consider contributing as well.

I also want to encourage anyone who is up for the jaunt down to Portland to consider attending ErosFestNW.  Inspired by the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival and Zoomanity, this Portland festival will showcase visual and performance art, workshops and other special events.  Supporting erotic visionaries in our community is vital to our social health and welfare.  This is a great opportunity to have an amazing time while ensuring continued efforts to change social views on sexuality.  I hope to see you there!

Spicy nag champa floating on soft instrumental cries and the rhythm of soft sighs,

your own breathing heartbeat avowing wondrous life.

Candlelight sunset dancing on hungry velvet skin caressed by warm chocolate melting tongue,

a silky touch demands attention as these eyes hold you, adored.