THE HUMAN NECK

I have a thing with necks. The neck is the best part of the human body. I've always had a soft spot for necks. Take little children for example. Your own. Or your nieces and nephews. (Too awkward if it is someone else's child :)) Is the neck not the perfect place to kiss? Little necks are always a little warm and they always always smell good. It doesn't matter if it is a little boy who has been playing for a few hours, still smells good. A girl trying to go to sleep? Smells great.

It is the perfect shape. The neck curves in a bit so you can nuzzle up next to it. They're also way ticklish. This makes it even more fun, because as the child knows you are reaching over to kiss their neck, they begin retreating and giggling. It takes a lot of trust to just stretch your neck out there to be kissed by mom. Rarely happens. It becomes a little game that they know mom is gonna win.

Now, when the neck belongs to anyone over 12, this becomes exponentially more difficult for moms. This is when I move to the -come up behind and quickly plant one on them while they are doing something else- trick. They might squirm a touch, but generally because they don't see it coming, they're ok with the quick shock. This is especially useful with 15-year-old daughters who just think mom touching them at all is weird now. Touching the hair, "mom, you're messing up my hair." Hugging the shoulders, "ow mom. That kinda hurts." Kiss on the cheek, "mom. You're so weird." So, one can only imagine the problem with kissing the neck. Way more intrusive and looked down upon.

My thought is, never stop touching or kissing your kids and either they will at some point appreciate it again, or at least they'll know that mom really likes being with me. Humor her and let her hug. Either one is ok with me.

See, I have a philosophy. Touching family is a must. Touching others is highly beneficial as well. I have two friends, Nick and Jo Cash. They are older than me, but not old enough that I could have been their daughter. Well, they tease that I could have been the daughter if they had had a high school baby! Nick was partners with Brett when we owned Costa Vida. Jo served with me in Young Women. I've played for their family countless times as they have sung here and there. There is a familiarity, a family feeling when I'm with the Cash family. Here's my point. When I see them, both of them, they hug me. I know they hug everyone else too. The young women loved Jo, because she was always rubbing their shoulders. If I sat next to her, she was doing the same to me. I don't think I ever see Nick, either, without a hug and word of encouragement or compliment. You feel loved when you are around the Cash's. Maybe that's why they feel like family to me.

Now, although we began with necks and my love for them, the broader point is that I believe physical touch in general releases positive, what, energy, transmittors? to your brain which make you feel better.

Side Note: When the Cash's grandson, Ethan, was living with them, I was serving as primary chorister with Nick. (Oh, I almost forgot. We've served 2 or 3 times together as choristers which furthers the bond.) We were having our primary program in sacrament meeting...you know, reverent, quiet sacrament meeting. Well, just as I motion the kids to stand up and begin the 1st song, Ethan very confidently lets out the Peter Pan "I've Gotta Crow" sound. If you don't remember the play, this is a very loud cockadoodle doo rooster deal at the top of your lungs. He just let it right out there, perhaps as a way to release energy before the big sing, or perhaps to let people know he's someone who deserved watching. We still laugh about that.

So there you go. The second best place to kiss...drumroll....the little bridge of the nose. You have to kiss it sideways, but it is heavenly. I noticed I may have passed this touch thing on to my family a bit. In church on Sunday, I was sitting by Spencer and Sydney. It went something like this: Hand massage for Spencer that he insists on every week and back scratch, face tracing on Sydney and another hand massage after Spence. Then, Ali starts being extremely agitated that it is her turn to sit by me until Spence is forced to move and Ali's head is on my shoulder. Oh, Spence tries to lie down so I'll trace his face. We were both laughing at this, because he can't get away with lying down and he knows it; even if the night before was prom. My 15-year-old daughter? Content to be on the end. I tell you, it's trickier with some. Some people just don't want to be touched. I respect that. When it's my daughter though, she's not getting out of it. She doesn't think she wants or needs it, but I believe deep down, everyone wants human contact. I'm not mentioning Brett, because he doesn't get to sit next to us on Sunday, so hand massages and face tracing are out for him.

Off to make lunch. What sounds good?? Maybe just a PBJ. Maybe some leftover lasagne. I learned from my friend Si, that lasgna, with an a, refers to a single lasagna noodle. Lasagne, however, refers to the lasagne as a whole or multiple noodles. I had always wondered about that. Seriously I had. I'm kind of a speller, grammar girl. I wonder about things like that. Difference between lay and lie? You lie yourself down, you are lying down. You lay the eggs on the table. Well, actually, they roll off if not protected, but I digress. ba dum dum.

I need to go outside too and feel the sun for a few minutes. Anyone want to teach a piano lesson for me? Have a great Tuesday.