I am no longer in a relationship since Bede was put down on February 3rd 2011. as he approached his 6th birthday (March 17th).

Bede was my first conscious, experience of Loving (benevolence), wishing the best for,delighting in, enabling and allowing a beloved Other to be Itself.

For many years, Otherness, inherent in human relationships, was best portrayed in a painting by the Danish artist Wilhelm Hammershoi of himself and his wife Ida.

In his Duino Elegies, Rilke describes beasts, with no sense of past or future, only present to the Open.

This Open derived from Holderlin, constantly came to mind.while observing Bede, sitting, staring, listening, scenting or pursuing,

Joy from morning throughout the day and for much of the night, over five and a half years.

Absence has occasioned first familiarisation with Grief.

Many of Rilke's words have become real v notional (Newman). "Just this once and only this once" and "In the end all is Praise".

All of which is summe