I don't have the answers yet, but I have learned enough to be dangerous, and ask better questions..

Ahh the fun stuff.
(I originally mistyped this as stiff. Hmmmmm. What is my Freudian sense trying to tell me?  :-o)

It seems to be one of my life-path requirements - the study of these things.

Did you know there was a difference between romance, passion, and sex? Or do you lump them all together?

Now, a word to the men: the playing field gets levelled here a bit, because despite popular opinion, women do not have the lock on this subject. So, by all means, jump in freely.

I am a bit chagrined to admit this, but I was formerly mixing romance, passion, sex, foreplay, and love inter-changeably. They were all lumped together in that bundle of things that come with Relationships with the Opposite Sex. Order yours today for only $19.95....

I am learning romance is quite different than sex, or even the lead up to sex, and that romance, rather than sex, is really the natural expression of love. It's the constant wooing and little touches for the beloved to let them know you are thinking about them, that you care, and that you love them.

By this definition, anyone can be romanced, without sex ever being the payoff.

You can romance a kitten.

You can romance a friend.

You can romance a child.

Or you can romance a parent.

Note that these are (or should be!!!!) non-sexual relationships.

My teacher in this is unusual....but I am certainly the eager student. I have been romanced steadily now by this individual for at least 3 years, and of course sex is never on the table, since this relationship isn't about that. But I have learned in that time that continual messages of love are quite a wondrous thing, and that really, they are coming all the time, if we would but sit still and see them. I often get flowers picked for me, little love notes, glasses of wine poured, treats, and a number of little spirit brighteners from one who loves me. This continual giving of little touches is, I realized quite late in the game, the art of romance.

How lovely. And how could I have lived without this all this time????

Does anyone romance you? Or do you romance someone? What does that look like for you?