You know how sometimes you get that perfect email from that perfect person saying the perfect words at the perfect time? (Also, you know how sometimes you totally overuse the same word over and over in one sentence??) Well that perfect email came for me, recently, from a writer named Nichole Parks.
I “met” Nichole when she was interning at Bethany House (my publisher) last year. We reconnected a couple weeks back when I received a wonderfully-timed and encouraging email from her. We got to chatting and I just knew she needed to be a guest around these parts. She’s got an adorably fun post about a topic near and dear to many a romance-lovers heart: kissing. And she’s giving away a $25 Diamond Candle gift card!
So check out the post…smile and laugh…then enter the giveaway below. And be sure to connect with Nichole at her other online hangouts, too.
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Photo Credit: Heidi Abbott
Dear person reading, my wisdom teeth [had] deep roots. Which sounds masculine to me. But wasn’t too big of a problem because as Dr. Dentist explained, he’d yank out the manly teeth.
I may or may not experience some numbness.
. . . I may.
Now half of my lips are numb. It could be weeks. Months. Years until my nerves get the nerve to be nerves again. All of this, of course, tracks back to the extraction of my deep roots bruising some nerve that I never knew existed.
Let me just say, dear person reading, the healing process after oral surgery is just like any other booboo. You have to constantly touch it just to make sure it still hurts. Or in the case of my numb lip, that it didn’t. Sometimes I’d even give it a pep talk. You know? I’d just be in the middle of Captain Swan making out or Charah kissing (What can I say? The healing powers of Netflix are strong.), and I’d poke my lip like get it together so you can feel all that.
Since I have about as many prospects as an abandoned mine, this campaign for non-feeling lips kissing issue seemed out of perspective.
But Mom thought my plight was adorable. She said that.
Mom: “Husband, [Nichole’s] concerned about her half numb lips because when she gets kissed, she wants to feel everything. Isn’t that adorable?”
Just.
Dad grinned, tossed back his head, and laughed in that silent way. When his head bent back into place, the laughing wasn’t so silently. He looked at me with twinkly, my-little-hopeless-romantic eyes. Then still laughing, he hugged me tight and kissed/nuzzled/scratched my neck. Which is sweet/ticklish/slightly painful as one might expect.
It was more embarrassing in the moment. But Parents are accepting of my belief in true love and true love’s kiss. My Christian Marriage 101 professor? Not so much.
I may or may have not refused to answer the essay prompt of: A friend wants to get married after two dates. How do you talk him out of it since he has not had enough time to cultivate true love?
I believe in love at first sight.
You do the math. I may have not done so hot on that exam.
Sigh. As if that wasn’t enough for my heart to take, I found out you can kiss and breathe at the same time. Apparently, this is a known thing. Breathing. Kissing. . . . Kissing. Breathing. Honestly, I’m still trying to get over it because book after romance book told me kissing was breathless.
As in not breathing.
Which, I don’t know about you, but just the idea of multitasking like kiss/breathe/kiss seems odd. There’s also the fact that your eyes are closed, or they should be. Unless . . . that’s a lie too?!
Anyway, I asked my roommate. She’s a girlfriend. She knows these things.
“Hazel?” I said. “Can you kiss and breathe at the same time?”
Hazel slit her eyes to me from the book in her lap. “I mean. . . .” She paused with a should-I-burst-your-innocence? face. “You can if you’re doin’ it right.”
Finally. An explanation for all the suctioning noises in make out scenes.
All this talk about kissing had me scrolling through my Kiss Me, You Fool board and digging back in archives for my favorite kissing stories. Erynn Mangum tells one heck of a story about her non-first kiss. And Jessica R. Patch shares The #1 Reason Why You Should Kiss with Your Eyes Open. Or you could always press play on the video below. Missy Peregrym is my favorite.
I know you’re not supposed to kiss and tell, but would you mind? Share your kiss story in the comment section. I could use all the help I can get.
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Nichole Parks majors in dark humor and dark chocolate at Taylor University. She makes her headquarters at Zondervan Library where she works remotely as Associate Editor of Splickety Love, blogs at nicholeparks.com, and perfects her application for The Bachelor.
Here’s where you can connect with Nichole online:
http://nicholeparks.com/
http://www.pinterest.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
https://twitter.com/nnparks
And now, it’s giveaway time! You’ve got one week to enter for a chance to win a $25 Diamond Candle gift card.
Comments 37
my first kiss was actually an accident because my boyfriend went to kiss my cheek and I must’ve moved my head because he kissed my lips and then apologized.
Author
Haha, I love it!
How about the kiss at the end of Persuasion?
Author
I loooove Persuasion!!
My favorite first kiss is soft and searching. A getting to know you kind of kiss. Not deep but with mouths closed.
Author
🙂 🙂 🙂
I generally don’t watch the kisses in movies. They’re too much. 🙂 Unless it’s a comedy and the kiss is supposed to be funny.
Author
I love funny kisses. And I love when it’s handled well in books. I think sometimes authors try a little too hard…or give sooooo much technical description that it actually pulls the reader out. In my opinion, the dialogue and emotional layering leading up to the kiss is just as important, if not MORE important, than the actual kiss. 🙂
I think “first kisses” could be a little disappointing…guy accidentally hits car handle with his elbow…door comes open ….light comes on for all to witness…embarrassing
Author
Which is why “first kiss” scenes are soooo fun to write in books. Hehehe…
I don’t know if I can recall a favorite kiss from a movie/book, but my favorite romance is Pride and Prejudice. (not the Keira Knightley version)
Author
Hey, another commenter mentioned that one too. Now I’m kinda convinced I need to rewatch that movie this weekend.
My favorite kiss was from my husband 27 years ago – it was at his parents house after I met them so I knew at that moment he was serious about pursuing a relationship with me!
Author
Oh that’s so sweet!
My favorite kissing scenes are from Jesse and Becky in Full House and Luke and Lorelai ‘s first kiss in Gilmore Girls. 🙂
Author
Luke and Lorelai!! That kiss on the porch of The Dragonfly Inn is one of the best kisses ever. Although I also love Rory and Jess’s at the end of Season 2 because, wow, sparks. But then, I really love Jess. 🙂
I liked Rory and Logan a little better but I do agree. Rory and Jess’s first kiss was one of the best kisses on the show!
Favorite type of kiss is the slow lingering kiss. Enough to say I really like you but not so intense that the other person feels like they’re being attacked. 🙂
Author
LOL yes, the feeling of being attacked…not so much what a guy (or girl, for that matter) should be going for. Hahaha!
I pretty much don’t like to watch people kiss…but I’m ok reading about it…not sure that makes sense, but it’s true.
Author
Haha that’s understandable. Plus, there’s watching people kiss which can be cute and watching people KISS!!! which can be just plain awkward. LOL!
I love the kiss in Titanic
Author
True story: I’ve never seen Titanic!! I know, crazy, right??
I guess I’d have to say the kiss at the end of Pride and Prejudice… the one with Colin Firth. Also, who’s the couple in the middle of the collage?
Author
Ooh the Colin Firth P&P. It’s been waaaaay too long since I watched that one. I usually watch the newer Kiera Knightley one simply because it’s shorter (and I adore the soundtrack and scenery) but that Colin Firth one is so true to the book. Love it!
The couple in the middle of the collage is Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker. They star in “Chuck,” which is a comedy about an average Joe who accidentally becomes the CIA’s greatest asset.
Author
I love Chuck!!
My favorite kisses are the ones I’ve written into the three books I’ve had published so far… I have to really get behind everything that is going on between my characters to get to the perfect emotions I need to convey. There’s nothing like it! ❤️
Author
It’s definitely fun writing those romantic scenes. 🙂
Hi Nichole and Melissa!
I had to smile at this post. And okay, laugh a little. Sorry Nicole. 🙂 I would love to share a story with you but I have never been kissed. I also haven’t had a boyfriend yet, so that has something to do with it. I must be scary or something, I honestly don’t know. Because I’ve never been asked out, either. And this comment is going down hill. Guess I should say, don’t worry about it, Nicole. I’m sure your lips will get it together by the time you meet the guy to give you “true love’s kiss.” 🙂
And I spelled your name wrong, Nicole! I’m so sorry!
Oops! I really wish these comments had a delete button for when I’m not paying attention and embarrass myself. Sorry, again Nichole. I saw a Nicole in the comments and thought I spelled your name wrong ( slaps forehead). I think I need some sleep before I do anything else today. LOL
Hi, Sarah. I’m pretty hopeful that my lips will be back to normal before summer break. 🙂 But I’m also super content with my single life, so my lips can take all the time they need. Good luck with your first kiss!
I was so stunned by my first kiss I don’t think I talked to anyone for like, an entire day!
As far as movies go, I still love Sound of Music the best. Or, for fun, I love Psych – and when Shawn and Juliet finally kiss and get together – it’s so fun and hilarious!
My favorite kiss would probably be the one in 16 Candles!
My first kiss was in kidegarten where I grabbed a little boy and dragged him into the bare branches of a lilac bush, where I thought no one could see us, lol. Then I kissed him!
You are very brave, Brighid. 🙂