…ok, so Bennie and Jezz and Connor were there, but basically it was just me and her.
It was skin on skin
skin on skin
skin on skin
…maybe there were a few layers of clothing between us, and maybe she was sitting on the other side of the room—alone—and that was all about to change, when I came over with my
vintage champagne
vintage champagne
vintage champagne
…well, that was locked away in Dad’s cabinet, but instead I had with me two cups of Coke
sweet and bubbly
the taste would pop in our mouths
…I think I might’ve left the bottle out overnight…might be a bit flat. But that doesn’t matter,
coz the charge between us is
electrifying
electrifying
electri—ow!
Did you just zap me? It’s ok, it’s probably just the friction between us.
Yeah, there’s a charge between us, babe, it’s—what? You have to go now? The party’s just getting started. You have to go home to charge your phone. Oh. That's cool. I'll see you at school.
Otherwise you'll be grouchy when your little sister snuggles into bed with you in the morning.
Note: If you don't have a little sister and feel something crawling into your bed, let's hope you have a dog.
2. Have a good breakfast
Eating well not only gives you more energy for hugs, it also gives you a healthy complexion, which will make you more attractive to others.
Note: The food must be consumed to have these effects, although wearing a fruit hat may also make you more attractive.
3. Do a morning exercise routine
Exercise will limber you up for hugging. For a simple exercise that can be done in the loungeroom, you could crank up your favourite tune and bust a move.
Note: If someone complains about the noise, or the fact that you just broke their china teapot, then they are obviously feeling aggravated, which means they need a hug. Hug them.
4. Put on deodorant
If someone gets KO'd from your BO, it'll be more awkward to hug them.
The cactus thinks he was rejected because he has prickles but really it's because he stank
Note: Hugging an unconscious person might also result in a court order.
5. Laugh
Laughter is contagious and will make your hugs happier. Laugh all the way to the bus stop. When you get on the bus, laugh outrageously at the not very funny comic strip from the paper next to you.
Note: If anyone shushes you, they may want you to engage in a quieter activity. That is the perfect opportunity to hug them.
6. Observe hugs
Find a well populated area and try to spot people hugging, to give you tips on proper hugging technique.
He is looking at hugs and she is depressed because she can't see it. The guy behind her can, that's why he's smiling.
Note: If they start to do more than hug, shout at them to get a room, then giggle madly as you run away.
7. Free your hands for hugs
As you will be passing many possible hugees, it is important to keep your arms free at all times.
These two could hug any second now
Note: If you are holding many items, consider putting them in the nearest charity bin. Do you really need to carry around your entire teddy bear collection? Hug them and let them go.
8. Tag on to a hug
If there's a group hug happening, sneakily snuggle in on that.
Note: If they catch you out, just smile and say 'that was nice' and walk away. Don't look back.
They'll never know...
9. See a funny film
To finish off your hugful day, go to your local cinema and see a funny film. Go sit down next to the most attractive person in the room and do the old 'yawn and put your arm around them' trick.
Sure, you can practice on a giant bag of popcorn first, if you feel like it
Note: If you can't find anyone willing to put up with you--I mean, someone who is uncontrollably attracted to you-- at least enjoy the film and laugh loudly until people throw popcorn at you. Then eat the popcorn because you're too cheap to buy your own.
10. Hug yourself
By now you should be just about hugged out, but before you get too sleepy, give yourself a big hug. You must love yourself before others can love you.
Note: For a bit of fun, you can stand in front of a wall and do the old make out trick.
Mum answered my last Skype call with a tone she'd use with Sushi on her deathbed, so I feel the need to set the record straight. I won't deny that the last few days have been particularly hard, mainly because of the lack of hugs thing has recently come into sharp awareness. However, now that I've set up my Hug Awareness group I'm feeling better about everything. It's nice to know that we are all supporting each other.
I haven't had a hug yet today, but there is still plenty of time. I'm going to an Improv comedy group soon at The Bell, which is a super cute local pub. I'll post photos soon.
Today I saw Harietta Gardens, which was lovely. On my way out I stopped in on a little courtyard. There was a pond and a gravel path with vines over the archway. A plant smelt exactly like lavender, only there wasn't any flowers. Then a squirrel came up close to me. A man sitting on a park bench nearby said, 'I want food,' speaking the squirrel's thoughts. I understood why the squirrel came so close. It moved really skittishly and sort of bounced when it ran. It reminded me of the way a ribbon moves when you move it up and down quickly at one end.
We had lovely weather today. Definitely moving into Spring. The sky was blue and there were clouds of mostly bright white. Here are some photos from my day:
Those pedestrians are scary
A print from an antique store
The Abbey
Pretty windows
A tree that looks like it's lived through two tires around its trunk
I was at Lauren's house. A group of us were out the back. Brodie came to the back door and was ranting about how we all sucked--the sorts of complaints that young brothers usually have when their sister throws a party. No one was really sure what to say (or didn't care), but then one of the guys jumped up and said, 'You need a hug,' and walked over to hug Brodie.
I think it was partly because we were all feeling silly, but what a great reaction! When people are stressed or feeling down is probably when they are in most need of a hug (though, of course, feel free to duck out of the way if they start throwing things).
There's another poetry event, and you won't believe who's performing...
MARK GRIST AKA MR I LOVE GIRLS WHO READ!!!! I found him about two weeks ago. You might have seen my ravings on Facebook about it. I would follow him anywhere ;) Everything else of him on YouTube is a manly insult contest between him and another poet, so it'll be good to see what he does on Thursday.
Also performing is my favourite British stand up poet, Anna Freeman, who I saw live after falling in love with this poem:
This is the venue:
The Roebuck, 50 Great Dover St, London
London is less than two hours away by train, and it's a good excuse to sight-see, because I haven't seen it properly yet. I'll go for three days. Yay for last minute adventures! They are the best kind.
The purpose of this group is to help us all keep track of how many hugs we get each day, and to try and raise our daily hugs. According to research, 12 hugs a day increases your emotional and physical growth. As the doctors should say 'Go for 2 fruit, 5 veg, and 12 hugs each day'.
If you're nowhere near that number, don't freak out, because I'm nowhere near it. Right now I'd settle for 5 and go from there. The great thing about this group is that we can share our experiences and try to get more hugs together! We can post pictures and watch as the daily tally of hugs increase.
If this is all freaking you out at the moment, feel free to join as purely supporter of hugs for the moment and you can add your own tally when you're ready. Invite all your friends and neighbours and even the people on Facebook who aren't really your friends in real life. Hugs should be shared by everyone!
Because hugging strangers is scary, I think it'll actually give me courage, to have someone there with me. Mainly as moral support, but if they're there, they might as well be filming it. I'll ask Sofia.
Speaking of moral support, I want to know that there are people in Australia (or wherever) who are supporting me on my project, so I don't feel like some total weirdo on the street stopping strangers for a hug (well, that's what I'll be doing, but you know).
So I want your support to be known somehow, but we can go even further than that.
I've decided to make it a neat 500 hugs. That's a nice, round number. I know that it'll take me a long time to do it on my own, so I've decided that I can enjoy hugs vicariously through you. Keep track of how many hugs you give/receive each day and mark it on the tally on this currently unknown website.
We need a site or a page that can keep track of the number of hugs (possibly showing who has contributed which hugs); allow people to comment and create discussions; allow people to subscribe (maybe have their personal number of hugs next to their name). And hopefully have a virtual fanfare when we reach that shiny 500.
