A Kiss is Just a Kiss

OAK HARBOR, WA-- One Washington state bride-to-be is making sure she shares a lot of firsts with her future husband, including her first kiss.
Rachel Welch says she decided at the age of 14 that she wasn't going to kiss any guy until she was married.
Welch met her fiancé Todd Ritter through their church youth group two years ago and the two got engaged last December. They will be tying the knot this July.
The 21-year-old says she and her fiancé show their affection by rubbing noses and giving hugs.

I found this brief article while surfing the web today. I guess I was stunned at first glance at the headline, but after reading it and finding out she is only 21, I’m not as impressed as I was at first. Don’t get me wrong…to be 21 and never kissed is quite a feat. I understand those that want to maintain their virginity until marriage, but kissing?!?! Its one thing to not have the opportunity, but to have a boyfriend and to deny yourself the greatest thing in the world…that’s just….strange to me.

In reading the last sentence – that they show affection by rubbing noses and giving hugs, I was a little disgusted. Is that wrong? There is something unnatural about denying yourself wonderful things to prove a point (unless you are a monk, of course). Do they deny themselves of ice cream because it tastes so good? Do they deny themselves of kissing because its wrong and fills their mind with lust? Or because they (I guess its only her, since they’re mute on his past) want to “save” such an intimate moment for only each other. I get it…and I’d almost be thrilled if my kid went this track, but I’d be SO disturbed if I caught my daughter and her boyfriend rubbing noses. Gack! Plus, there are lot more things more intimate than a kiss…(side note: do I sound skanky?)

Kissing is…kissing. Its natural, fun and gives you the biggest clue as to whether or not you are compatible as a couple. It makes your stomach drop. Heck, I’m a self-professed “make-out queen” - since the mid-1980’s. If I got stuck marrying the first guy I kissed, I’d be a widow and I would’ve spent our years together with his tongue jammed down my throat moving in repetitive circles over and over. Was anyone’s first kiss enjoyable? And…I get it…they can work on it together, but why deny yourself in the first place. There’s just so much to like about kissing and its REALLY going to stink if they’re not good together. Practicing might be fun though. But still…rubbing noses?!?! I bet she goes to sleep on Holly Hobby sheets every night.