When Earth Comes Into A Close Orbit With Mars

I have been fascinated by the recent landing of the NASA probe Perserverance on to the planet Mars.

It is a technological marvel, a substantial event in the history of humankind.

I have read how the planning for these launches and landings take place years in advance and are timed to coincide with the closer orbit of Mars to Earth to save travel time between the planets.

In recent weeks, for what has been a sustained period, I have felt that I have been in a closer orbit with my wife. It is as if we have become more aligned after a much longer sustained period of distance and suspicion and doubt.

I have felt seen by her, and she has felt safer in my love and companionship and it has felt genuine.

This morning as we went about our separate routines in the kitchen before breakfast, the song “Have I told you lately” sung by Van Morrison was played on the radio.

“Have I told you lately that I love you — Have I told you there’s no one else above you — You fill my heart with gladness — Take away all my sadness — Ease my troubles, that’s what you do

I stopped her from her busyness and I stuck my head into her shoulder and we swayed whilst these lyrics washed over us both.

We were close together in the orbit of these words.

In truth, it is not possible to take away all my sadness, it is inherent within me and there are feelings of hurt and disappointment and frustration and fear that I don’t expect will ever go away.

But I have felt supported in the closer orbit of Mars to Earth.

I have felt my troubles eased by feelings of being loved and appreciated and I think my wife will have felt eased by the spontoneity of my holding on to her, so that, with me she felt into these lyrics and experienced in her heart my gratitude for keeping faith with her gay husband.

William Defoe