Awkward

Years of indoctrination can have some positive effects, but it can also leave a few scars.

One such scar, for married Mormon boys raised in Mormon communities, is the hello/goodbye kiss with the opposite sex.

We just don't pull this off well.

Now this assumes said "boy in a bubble" gets off the reservation long enough for a scintillating cheek brush with someone other than your spouse. There are a fair number trapped in the platonic world of hand shakes.

I can still remember my first.

Under the canopied walk of Penn I extended my hand as I was introduced to the rather cute wife of a classmate. But I was gently pulled in close and given a soft kiss on my check. As we released our embrace our eyes locked and after a long pause we began passionately kissing....

Wait. That's the indoctrination talking.

Nothing happened.

Except for me fumbling, unsure what to do and convinced that her husband was "watching" me.

What was the big deal? Why do I even remember my first?

I am older and a slightly more liberated cheek kisser. But I still have my moments. At least I can have fun now.

The new married couple in the ward direct from BYU who invites us over to dinner. As we leave I lean in and give the wife a good smack.


Ahh nothing like the smell of Awkwardness in the air.

Will she remember her first Kiss?