Crushes are Yummy

I had a problem last week coming up with anything original for yummy.. I read quite a few of those by other contributors and thought that they were certainly "right on." I too could have listed numerous things I find yummy: most were sweet, like cinnamon buns & tira misu & sweet potato,pecan casserole & s'mores by a campfire; or sweet and precious, like babies and puppies and kittens. I also liked great buns in tight fitting jeans, especially male divers butts and legs, in tight jeans or in skimpy diving swim suits. There is also cuddling and kissing by a crackling fire listening to wonderful music. But.....

Then, this week, when I started thinking about crushes, I realized what a great example they really were of yummy also. Yummy is a sensory word and crushes are all about sensory overload, sensory head over heels, heart and senses over mind and intellect.

We have all had crushes. Suddenly, frequently without reason, one individual is more gorgeous than any of the other people in his same group (class, team, work location, whatever), his smile lights the room, increases our heart rate, blood pressure, and frequently body temperature. Everything he says is more dazzlingly intelligent or funny than anyone we have ever known before. We think about him all the time, often to the detriment of what we should be thinking about. We make up conversations and know just what we want to say. Except when we have that opportunity to actually speak to "him," our tongue becomes tangled and our mind turns to mush. Crushes are one of the most delicious sensory experiences of our human life.

Sometimes, I think I'd even say usually, crushes just fade away over time. Reality sets in, either gradually over time, or perhaps suddenly as an overwhelming truth reveals itself. Sometimes the dissolution of this sparkly romantic dream is painful and crushing. Philosophically though, I really think having and surviving crushes is an important part of the growing up and maturing process. On the flip side, crushes can also help us keep feeling young. We should hope we never get too old to feel the "crush rush," but that we can remain mature enough to keep it in perspective--feel and bask in the glow, but know it probably isn't "real." We also need to remember that something that is real should never be jeopardized for the thrill of the crush. Occasionally, really lucky people have a crush that turns to real, lasting love; and for an even smaller, luckier few, the "crush rush" hangs on through the years with that love.

I think I am one of the lucky ones.