Familiar Energy

My friend Tim came over this evening and we lost ourselves in the familiarity of old Broadway tunes. He sat playing at my piano, an instrument that deserves better than I am usually capable of, as I stretched vocally into notes that scared the cats out of the room and sent us all into horrified (on my part) giggles. I am, clearly, rusty and no longer the clear throated 3 octave soprano I once was.

But despite the hour and most of a bottle of marvelous New York Concord wine (a wine you smell coming and makes your mouth water in the process) I am a mix of energized exhaustion. Oh the energy of friends and familiar songs!

This morning it was a lovely DC crisp autumn day. The kind of day you wait for all year long. I drive an Aquarius Blue (car talk for baby blue) VW Beetle Convertible and this morning we took it in to work, top down. We passed our friend John and then our friend Cynthia and each time exchanged waves and smiles - happy at the familiarity of friendship. Energized by the sun and the smiles.

I was reminded of a place I worked for 17 years, of a game I used to play with another friend who shares my general gregariousness (because despite being an introvert, I am gregarious.) We'd walk down the hallway and see which of us was greeted first most often. He was the editor of the internal newsletter (circulation: 15,000) and well known. I just get to know people. He loved playing this game with me because I could actually win. I loved playing the game because I love the energy found in the warmth of a familiar smile. Well, and I could beat him.

I've always thought it interesting that another use for the word "Familiar" is to describe a witch's companion, most commonly imagined as a black cat. In truth, a familiar's sole purpose is to bring extra energy to the intentions of the witch. Sort of like candle light brings energy to the intentions of someone praying in front of a church altar. Any high energy animal will do. But as the owner of two cats I understand why they might be the animal of choice.

A familiar's energy must be freely given. Sort of like the energy we give to each other when we smile and greet another warmly.

And it makes me wonder. How much more might we accomplish when we are sustained on the familiar energy of others and their good wishes for us?

Should we all practice familiarity?