November 10, 2007
First Kiss
Written by Cindy Kirk in Jaunty PostThe other jaunties have been writing all week on the topic “First Kiss.”
When you write a book, the conventional wisdom is that you need to put a fresh twist on a familiar topic. So I tried to think how to put such a twist on this topic.
How about a non-conventional kiss that touched your heart? The open mouthed kiss of your baby daughter…the swipe of your dog’s tongue… a sand-paper kiss from your cat…
When I think of my favorite non-conventional kiss, I’d have to say my dog Comet (a bichon, now deceased). Comet adored me (most of our pets have preferred my husband–but not Comet)…and when I’d go to bed, he’d jump up (he slept at the foot of the bed) and he’d always give the top of my hand a little lick before settling down. It was a sweet gesture from a very sweet dog…and one I’ll never forget.
How ’bout you? If you had to pick just one non-conventional kiss, what would it be?
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Taryn Raye Says:
My daughter’s kisses. Sometimes she’ll just wrap her arms around my neck and peck my cheek repeatedly and then tell me “I love you so much Mommy.”
Those are the moments that make my heart pause in my chest because I know there will come a day when she’ll “hate” me, or think I’m totally unreasonable or can’t understand what she’s going through, but for now, I cherish ever little kiss she gives me.
AndreaW Says:
Totally agree with Taryn . . . my kids’ kisses. They absolutely melt me.
Cindy Kirk Says:
Taryn and Andrea,
I totally agree. As my daughter got older I learned to treasure those fleeting moments when she’d say she loved me, give me a quick hug or a heartfelt Hallmark card (that kind of things will always make me tear up)
Speaking of tearing up, this passage in a Kristin Hannah book “The Things We Do for Love” really got to me…and I hadn’t even read the book (my daughter was reading it and pointed it out to me)
Angie is the protagonist, a now middle-aged woman who’d had one child who died when she was three months old and hadn’t been able to get pregnant since. She and her husband had also suffered through several failed adoptions attempts. Then a motherless teenage girl (Lauren) comes into her life. Without either of them quite realizing how it happened, their relationship became one of a mother and daughter.
Angie says to Lauren:
“All those empty years I dreamed of my little girl on a merry-go-round. I didn’t know…”
“Didn’t know what?”
“That my daughter was already too old for playgrounds.”
Lauren looked up at her then. It was all in her eyes, the years spent in quiet desperation, standing at her window, dreaming of a mother who loved her, or lying in bed longing for a bedtime story and a good-night kiss. “I was waiting for you, too.”
I don’t know…maybe it’s just me, but those few paragraphs really tugged at my heartstrings.
Mary M Says:
I had a cat I adored. He would take my hand in his paw, and kiss my hand. It was so cute and sweet.
Cindy Kirk Says:
Mary,
Thanks for sharing. I know a lot of people who’ve never had cats don’t realize how truly affectionate they can be.
Cindy
Helen Says:
At the moment I would have to say my 21 month old grandson who asks for a kiss a big open mouthed sloppy one at that then says yuk and laughs he is so cute.
Have Fun
Helen
Cindy Kirk Says:
Helen,
Your grandson sounds simply adorable.
Cindy
Kathryn Says:
I`ve never liked doggy kisses, but I love the hugs I get from my dogs. Open mouthed, laughing, wiggling, bump-against-me, big old hugs. I had a cat, Sherpa, who died in 1995… she kissed and kneaded my head every night and slept on my pillow every night. That pillow was so empty when she died.
I loved all the kisses from my kids. Open mouthed sloppy, big hugs, kisses goodbye. My youngest, who is now nearly 15, still signs off all her phone calls to me with two smacking kisses into the receiver, any time anywhere. Kisses are so special!
ladydawgfan Says:
I kiss my parents goodnight every night before I go to bed. I am in my 40’s and they are in their mid-70’s, and I am staying with them so that they can stay in their home as they get older. I treasure these kisses - as they get older, God willing, I will have many more nights of goodnight kisses. However, I am not taking any chances.
Cindy Kirk Says:
Kathryn, Your post made me smile. Our blue heeler, Shug, loves to stand on his hind legs, put his paws on my shoulder and lay his head on my chest…precious. Our cat, Oreo, does the kneading thing–she’s a sweetheart.
Ladydawgfan….I would give anything to kiss my parents good-bye one more time. You’re wise to treasure these moments.