Absence makes the heart grow fonder

This Thursday, Michael will embark on a ten-day trip. His first stop will be Orlando, where he will compete in the Walt Disney World Marathon. Though his goal is just to finish, I'm still making a voodoo doll to represent all the other runners so that I might influence the outcome in Michael's favor.

Next, he will fly back to his hometown of Philadelphia (his childhood home is three houses down from that of Vida Boheme). He will spend a week catching up with his family and friends before returning to Phoenix and to me, provided I haven't been lynched by a thousand angry and bewitched marathon runners. Our reunion will look something like this famous photograph by Robert Doisneau titled "Le Baiser du Trottoir":

(Except, of course, it will be two men.)