Just heard this old Billy Idol song (?!!) and had to share as it sums up the current drought. Got an email from a friend who said she endured five years of celibacy after her longterm relationship ended. Oy. People … CANNOT do that! But I’m also so determined not to share myself with anyone who isnt respectful. As I said to my friend K. the other night, if I have more than a moment’s anxiety about my stomach when imagining being neked with someone, that’s a moment too long.

As we all better appreciate with age  how fragile we are — our skin, bones, egos, and feelings are all tissue-thin and so easily damaged — it becomes that much more difficult to expose ourselves. Gone are the skinned knees of youthful flings – the easy throwing off of clothes. Self-protection is good. Self-respect is righteous. But how do you keep yourself from ending up in the corner reading a book while your body and its desires goes quiet?