Then, too, at sea—to use a homely but expressive phrase—you miss a man so much. A dozen men are shut up together in a little bark, upon the wide, wide sea, and for months and months see no forms and hear no voices but their own, and one is taken suddenly from among them, and they miss him at every turn. It is like losing a limb. There are no new faces or new scenes to fill up the gap. There is always an empty berth in the forecastle, and one man wanting when the small night watch is mustered. There is one less to take up the wheel, and one less to lay out with you upon the yard. You miss his form, and the sound of his voice, for habit had made them almost necessary to you, and each of your senses feels the loss.
—a sailor's diary entry, on losing a shipmate, ca. 1834 (from Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr.)
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I've heard people say the week starts on Sunday, and I've heard people say it starts Monday. I'm curious which is more popular, so I'm putting it to a vote!
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Gil Elvgren - "Mona" - 1959 American Beauties Calendar Illustration - Brown & Bigelow Calendar Co. - American Pin-up Calendar Collection
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Twenty-Fourth Day of Gift-Giving
Twenty-Four Touches
Softly getting hold of the other’s hand, afraid to make a mistake
A casual touch on the shoulder to acknowledge them
Foreheads pressed together, a silent way to say “I’m here”
A gentle hand holding the other’s neck while staring into their eyes
Whispering, lips almost touching the ear
A quick brush of hands, almost unnoticeable
Tracing the other’s lips with their finger
An arm sneaking around a waist, holding them close
Pressing their face into the other’s neck, hiding from the world
A hand in the other’s hair, not quite grabbing it
Sighing into the kiss, melting together at last
A swift kiss to the other’s cheek
Brushing away an unruly lock of hair
A firm handshake, professionally at first, but a second to long
Gently kissing the other’s knuckles
A tender hug, just staying together for a while
Hands rubbing together to warm them up
A firm hand grabbing the other’s elbow to guide them
Feeling for the other’s pules with their lips
A quick kiss on the crown of their hair
Sitting on the other’s lap, being hugged from behind
A slow dance, entangled with each other
Cold feet warming each other up under the blanket
A gentle kiss on the forehead, a sweet goodbye
24 Days of Gift-Giving
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