Mwah Mwah!

I've become used to being greeted with a kiss on each cheek when meeting friends or meeting someone for the first time here in England.  It used to make me a little uncomfortable, but now I see it as a lovely custom and, depending on the situation, preferable to handshakes.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I lean in for an air-kiss, I do just that - an air kiss (not to the extent of Amanda Holden's smacker on her invisible friend there, but you know, so it's cheek to cheek rather than actual lips to cheek).  Sometimes, however, I get slightly grossed out when I actually get a proper kiss on the cheek because, well, you know, it's like, wet.  Unghghgh ... shudder.  My first instinct is to wipe away the saliva with the back of my hand, but I can't - especially if it's someone older.  I mean, I appreciate the sentiment - it's endearing.  But the wetness ... eww ...

Anyway, as usual, I have an anecdote.  A couple of years ago, I was at a wedding reception in Leicestershire, meeting some of John's friends' parents for the first time.  After being introduced to a line of people, one by one, and kissing each person in greeting, I was introduced to a grandparent.  I introduced myself and leaned in for the kiss, but something was wrong.  Grandpa looked a bit confused, then smiled and said, "Oh yes, lovely, a kiss on the cheek!  Sorry dear, I just hadn't caught your name."  So his lean-in was actually to lend me his good ear, rather than his face.  Awesome.

The moral of the story is: don't assume everyone wants to give you a juicy smacker to say 'hi'.


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