I am the daughter of a woman who does not believe in romance.
I have been brought up to not believe in romance and to spit out little tacks of bile when somoene mentions the word.
If romance were to exist it would not be for a girl like me. I have always known this to be true.
Except now, now things seem to be changing. I don’t really know what romance is. I really don’t.
I don’t think it is roses or silk bedsheets. I am certain it is not tired old lines or over booked restaurants on Valentine’s Day.
But I don’t think it is wrong either. I do not think it is something to hate or to be angry with.
But somehow I feel everything is more beautiful than it was before. I feel meaning in films and hope in starlight.
I don’t understand how meeting the man who spanks me and how being told off and packed off to bed and how not being able to swear and how not being able to lie about things teaches me anything about romance.
(I know that was a terrible sentence but I feel such a sense of confusion about this issue that I want to keep that fragmented messy collection of words just as it is.)
Do other women feel just as confused about romance?
How can I feel as confused as a child and at the same time feel the first blossom of romance I have ever known?
I am utterly bewildered.
I am fantastically happy.
That was a lovely post.
Poppy, you think and feel so deeply, and lead us, your readers, to do the same. I think romance is two things: first, the little things we do for each other–the kiss to wake him up, the tea brought to my side of the bed, the laughter and the forgiveness.
And it's also a way to live: wearing wonderful earrings, growing fragrant flowers, digging your toes into sand at the beach, and loving every minute of life.
When the way you live (romantically) merges with the one you love (romantically), then life seems to catch fire, doesn't it? I guess I think that's what romance is: a life on fire. Times two.
This post is so sweet and vulnerable… Scarlet, I really like your comment, too. Let me add my approval of romance and its life-enchanting power! It uplifts the very tone of life, and keeps the heart open about everything.
I think it´s romantic when someone cares for you. It feels like nowadays nobody cares… Over-individualistic lifestyles, people trying to reach false freedom and never be happy.
It is great to be a strong, highly educated modern woman, but it sure is not romantic at all. Luckily I guess you can get the both lives if you´re creative enough…?
XXX
Maria
ps. I love the pics!
Thank you, A'Marie.
Scarlet, I love your definition of romance. It is all those little moments, isn't it? I love growing up and learning these things.
Lorraine, thank you. I am glad you liked it and doesn't Scarlet always write the most wonderful comments?
Maria, I think it is posible to be romantic because we are strong and highly educated. We have choices and chances and freedoms to find things that make us happy. It is all up to us- that is what tomorrow's post is all about.
Yes, you´re so right, Poppy!
I got so inspired about the whole romantic topic. I hope you don´t mind if I´ll write one about the same thing, too?
Maria
So romance is MORE than remembering to put the toilet seat down?
(Very sweet and endearing post, Poppy, and I may have mentioned before but you have lots of smart and well spoken girlfriends.)
I think sometimes the Feminist Movement took things too far and trying to stomp out romance with equality was one of those things. I was born in the 60s and raised in the Feminist 70s. I can remember reading MS magazine and wondering why they were so AGAINST romance and having guys take charge. I am an old fashioned gal,so different from my sibs. I enjoy doing things for My Sir,and in turn he takes care of me. Romance is not dead nor shall it ever die,and romance DOES mean different things to different people. For me it is the way My Sir helps me with the little things,such as carrying the dirty laundry down to the basement so I can wash it,fold it and bring it back for him.
Scunge, someone wrote to me saying much the same things as you and I think we should take such care with our treatment of the feminist movement and all it gave us. I struggle to see the romance in a pre-woman's right era. Consider Saudi Arabia if you think an absence of women's rights will lead to romance. There men are totally in charge. Women cannot drive, they all must have a male guardian, they can't vote, must get permission to travel, marry and divorce and thus have no right to divorce even if suffering extreme violence. I could write about this for ages. But please do not confuse my writing about romance with any kind of disrespect for the woman's movement- without which you and I would be terribly chastised for speaking so publicly about our sexual desires and without which we would find our choices and freedoms restricted.
I completely agree it is different things for different people.
Thank you, Dev and Maria, I would love you to write about romance.
I look forward to reading it.
Poppy, I started to comment last night, but wanted time to think. Romance is really very important to me, and I think I have been laughed at for it upon occassion. I am not partial to the silly kind of romance, but the kind that allows me to believe in true love, in self fulfillment, to have faith in what one cannot see but knows is possible. I think that is what being a romantic is about, and I am actually quite glad to be one, if sometimes a bit shy about those views. They are not always popular or understood.
Sara, thank you for writing that. It was eloquant and beautiful. I think you put what I was trying to understand into words.
I tend to trust views that are not always popular or understood more than the other kind of views.
I really appreciate your views on this and you taking the time to consider them.
Poppy, every woman deserves a romantic life. Yes Poppy to us spanking enthusiasts, you are are romance. You are beautiful, your bare bottom is beautiful, your blog is beautiful, and if I can only wish so, my spanking you, would be beautiful. That would be my romantic wish. To romance you, while spanking you voluptous bare bottom.