PDA

I don't usually witness much public display of affection. Seems I am not in the kinds of places where that behavior occurs. Nor do I have a lot of friends who are in relationships just starting out. But today as I was heading to VAC to do my lunchtime track walking, I passed a couple locked in a tight embrace.

They were standing on the sidewalk by an older white car shedding its rust quietly on the slushy pavement. He was a good two feet taller than she, and unbending. She had wrapped her arms around his waist, reaching a bit up to do so. She was clinging on for dear life, as if they were separating never to see each other again. I wondered if the relationship were ending, so desperate her hold on him.

It reminded me of when my kids were little, and they used to wrap themselves around my leg and hang on, riding along as I walked, giggling with glee at the up and down motion - sort of like experiencing a carnival ride. We would laugh together, and sometimes I would hold on to their shoulders to keep them from falling off.

Finally, the young man bent down giraffe-like and planted a kiss on the top of her head. She lifted her face to his, craning her neck straight upwards. They kissed again, mouth to mouth, rather sloppily as they each struggled to keep their balance in their off-kilter positions. He gently disentangled himself from her arms and stepped back, he on the curb, she on the pavement, adding to the discrepancy in height.

There they stood for some minutes, not talking, not touching, not even looking at each other. Then he turned and strode off towards the gym, reaching it before I did. She stayed standing there on the parking lot a while after he disappeared through the double glass doors.

I wondered what was happening to her. Was it a life-shattering goodbye? A simple disagreement? A power struggle? Whatever it was, she sighed and wandered off, shoulders slumped and bag dragging the ground. A terrible time to have issues, the final week of class what with papers and exams and winding down the semester on top of holiday activities.

Thank God I am not going through such trama! Though of course, it never gets any easier, relationships. And quite frankly, it is nice to see positive and gentle pda - a wee bit of hand holding, a gentle touch on the shoulder, a peck on the cheek. These I see among the long time couples that are still very much in love. How reassuring to know there are some who survive and flourish. As they say, hope springs eternal. I hope someone tells her.