Romance

Here is a list of words direct from my brain, the result of a self-administered word-association exercise. The word? Romance.

corsets
kissing
flowers
lingerie
perfume
gifts
heels
hotels
lovey-dovey
what women want
emotions
buttons
bra hooks
spooning
holding
candlelight
wine
cheap fiction
Heathcliff
Emily Brontë
frock coats

And so on.

Disappointingly pedestrian, I'm sure you'll agree.

So if we're looking for more than just a hook-up, something greater than sex, is romance that thing? And if so, what is romance? Is it about longing and unrequited desire, or is it sex after a nice dinner?

Romance. It's this week's focus.

Romance Part 2, Romance Part 3, Romance Part 4.