A kiss between loved ones or friends is an innocent and beautiful experience. It is affectionate, trusting, playful. It says I like you, I enjoy your company, I want to share myself with you. It says my soul wants to kiss your soul.
But a kiss is also the classic sign of an illicit relationship. An over-intimate kiss between two supposed acquaintances suggests something much deeper, something sexual.
However much you deny it, it speaks for itself. There's something going on here, something that shouldn't be going on. Or maybe something that should be going on, but it's going to hurt somebody else badly.
Then there are the kisses you don't really want to give at all. You're a bit reluctant to kiss granny or grandpa because, well, they're a bit wrinkly and funny-looking, and kissing all those wrinkles and saggy bits might feel a bit yukky. But after all, it's granny, so you overcome your squeamishness and give her a nice big kiss. And she really appreciates it.
And of course there are the people you're just dying to kiss, desperate to kiss, but you can't because they're remote celebs, or they're your boss, or your student, or you're sure they'd run a mile, or they're uptight straight men, or they just jilted you, or they're complete strangers in Sainsbury's.
There was a guy* who set out to kiss a complete stranger every day for a year - because he thought it was such a delightful and friendly thing to do. And he managed it. He recorded the reactions of all the people he kissed. Surprise, amusement, embarrassment, happiness, gratitude, flirtation. It was touching and heartwarming.
The human body is just made for kissing. The textures, the contours, the pliability. I'll happily kiss just about anywhere, from the forehead to the ankle and most spots in between. Whoever invented kissing was a genius.
* the wonderful Philip Thiel from Melbourne
kissing is the wonderfullest thing on the face of the earth
ReplyDeleteKylie: Well, not quite, but it comes pretty close....
ReplyDeletewell i havent figured out whats better
ReplyDeleteI miss kisses almost as much as I miss touch!
ReplyDeleteKylie: Well, maybe walking along an Aussie beach at sunset. Or eating chocolate cake. Or hearing K T Tunstall live. Quite a few things actually....
ReplyDeleteKissing's pretty damn fun though.
I once dumped a guy who I was otherwise really into because he told me he didn't like kissing. Talk about a dealbreaker.
ReplyDeleteLiz - How can someone not like kissing? It must have gone back to some unfortunate childhood experience. Or even someone claiming that kissing wasn't very masculine....
ReplyDeleteHe said it was just kind of gross to him and it didn't turn him on. Even though he said it was him and not me, I took that to mean that I was kind of gross and didn't turn him on.
ReplyDeleteLiz - Oh, it doesn't seem to me like it was an opinion of you. It seems like an opinion of kissing people generally, even if they're stunningly attractive.
ReplyDeleteH'm toss up between kissing and hugging, together they are wonderful but sometimes it's a choice. I usually choose a kiss. I love kissing.
ReplyDeleteI added up today's kisses and there were 4 with different people.
Sometimes I go back for more :) as people are so goshdarn CUTE.
XO
WWW
Did I just write goshdarn? Head*desk*thump
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
www: Yes, hugging's great as well. You go back for more? Never thought of that. Head*desk*thump
ReplyDeleteGrannymar: You can't mean that nobody ever kisses you? That would be dismal indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'll happily kiss just about anywhere, from the forehead to the ankle and most spots in between.
ReplyDeleteDitto.
I will also happily allow myself to be kissed just about anywhere, from the forehead to the ankle and most spots in between.
How about you? I bet you are ticklish!
Ramana: I'm very ticklish. Particularly on the soles of my feet.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, Nick, but I have been thinking a lot lately about kissing. About how much I adore it (the sweet kisses of affection are nice; romantic/erotic kisses ever so much better)...about what makes a good kiss and about how just when I think I have gotten my favorite all time kiss, I get an even more special one...
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me want to blog again!
p.s. should you *really* have given away your tickle spot? Such a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands...
ReplyDeleteLeah: That's true about getting your best-ever kiss and then getting an even better one. And we haven't even mentioned tongues....
ReplyDeleteNot many people have access to my naked (or even socked) feet, so I think giving away my tickle spot is not such a big risk.
I prefer touching to kissing. Not good when it comes to kissing. Actually not good on touch either although I love the connection when someone touches me on the shoulder say, and I wish I were more tactile.
ReplyDeleteLiz - I couldn't go without touching for long. It's such an immediate and vibrant connection with another person. Much more immediate than the clumsy ambiguity of words.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more about the joys of kissing. Does kissing ones cat count? Because he is the only being currently available to me who is remotely kissable.
ReplyDeleteHeart: I'm sure kissing one's cat counts. A cat always gives plenty of affection back! It's a shame he's the only available kissee though....
ReplyDeleteHaving little folk in the house means I'm lucky enough to be able to plague them with kisses and hugs any time. They'll appreciate it eventually...
ReplyDeleteSpeccy: Ah yes, that's one big advantage of having kids - endless kissing opportunities! But I didn't get enough kisses and hugs from my own parents, as I explained recently.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post Nick, and I adore my cats but much prefer human kisses to the feline variety, though in their defence, cats appear to be more consistent in their affections than do humans.
ReplyDeletee - That's very true, human beings can blow hot and cold in a way cats seldom do.
ReplyDeleteAh I blogged about kissing years ago when I was in form. So right. So many kisses. Such a sweet sign of tenderness.
ReplyDeleteBaino: A sweet sign of tenderness. Exactly. A sign of true companionship.
ReplyDeleteI actually returned to read the rest of the comments! And though your post is in the past now, I am still sitting here thinking about kisses. :-)
ReplyDeleteLeah: Kisses do seem extraordinary when you start thinking about them. Such a simple act, yet so pleasurable.
ReplyDelete