About Romance

Big no-no! Never complain about your romance to you friends, and definitely not on the Internet where your significant other will definitely see!

While asking for advice and having someone to listen to you are important necessities, I think complaining about your spouse or significant other only makes things worse. Even if everyone is having a satisfying gossip party where they all divulge the metaphorical dirt, it's never okay to betray or belittle your spouse. It's just one of the worst ways to treat your marriage/relationship. That being said, a happy marriage is the envied state of most of the romantically-inclined population, and therefore, the expectations of it are set unrealistically high.

Marriage is disappointing. It's a host of innumerable other nouns as well, but disappointment is probably the one that gets the most attention. This makes a lot of people want to gripe to someone about it, even if the feeling will pass. I'm not immune to it, but I really hate having to listen to someone complain to me about their S.O.

That being said, here's my complaint:

So, I've been married to two and a half years now, and kissing my man for three. Kisses are not romantic anymore. Sometimes he'll lean in for a kiss (just like in movies or books), and then burp (involuntarily) right before. A few nights ago, he started kissing me in a new strange way, and then explained proudly, "Those were Turtle Kisses." (see this link for reference: http://www.gifbay.com/gif/baby_turtle_vs_tomato-18705/ )

This is fairly a common occurrence. I think it's hilarious most of the time. But sometimes he just does it to tick me off, you know? It's like he's thinking, "Here, let me turn you on slightly and then do something I know you hate, just because it's funny." I know I like kissing seriously more than he does. Funny kisses are pretty great and all, but I still want my share of breath-taking moments too. I don't want to feel like all that is behind me just because it's no longer a new thing. But sometimes, it's the harsh truth: romance is dead, and I'm only 24.

I was having these thoughts one night a while ago, and it was much worse than usual because I'd just read a manga with very romantic kisses. As we got into bed that night (that phrase makes you think it's going to turn intimate, right? Wrong!), he asked me to rub his feet, and obligingly lays  his head at the foot of the bed. His feet don't really smell, but they were a little too close for comfort. Yep, romance is dead. I thought.

But just as I was lying there, with his feet in my face, feeling that this is my lot in life, he started rubbing my feet. That's kind of aww-inducing. And then, unexpectedly, he brushed a kiss or two on my foot. That was enough to make any school girl sigh. See? Now you think that you're reading about an intimate scene with too much information, aren't you? Lo, the power of serious kisses!

Kisses are important. They can be the difference between life or death in a romance. Kiss wisely. (hahaha!) Lately, he often says to me "I'd better kiss you, just to be safe." to make sure that our love is alive and happy. He's a smart guy. I can't really complain, can I?

I don't think the balance between life and death of love hangs on a single kiss, but it's made up of many sweet moments of hugs, laughter, and that sense of relief when your trust is confirmed again. And since this is a two-way street, it occurs to me that I'd better try and remember to do little things like that for him too-- just to be safe.