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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Police reports Lion sanctuary opens to overnight guests, visitors in Phoenix Program fosters park care SOU board names officers, committees Region in for a wet and windy week Education SOU board names officers, committees Parent files complaint against Ashland schools Learning on the job AHS speech and debate team headed north Willow Wind inquiry forms now available Environment Grant will help restore 'legacy' oak habitat in Southern Oregon and Northern California Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Mt. Ashland Ski Area announces layoffs The top five conservation success of 2014 Protestors want Keystone pipeline plans stopped Business Ride & Drive: The 2015 BMW M4 Silvio Calabi: Jeep’s Patriot earns respect New Ashland eatery features Basque cuisine Learning on the job Ashland restaurant featured on cable TV Politics and elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland Fiber Network wants to be able to keep trade secrets Volunteer award, State of City address presentations Tuesday City's policy, efforts aim for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address State News Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Two new wolves confirmed in Southern Oregon, state reviewing status of northeastern packs State records show number of big marijuana farms has increased New wandering wolf arrives in Southern Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Geraldine "Gerry" Smith Death Notices Lily Hearn May Antonucci Shareable Sports Latest Stories Raiders, at last Hawks keep streak alive, top Trail Blazers Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Seahawks consider the Gronk factor High school Raiders, at last Ashland swimmers sweep three-way Grizzly spirit Ashland girls remain winless in MWL Springfield takes advantage of Ashland letdown Southern Oregon University Raiders, at last Raiders pulverize Simpson, bag first shutout in six years Raiders seek weekend sweep Southern Oregon zeroes in on first men's soccer coach Howard named NAIA coach of the year Opinion Latest Stories Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Chris Honoré: Public schools: separate, still unequal Editorial Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod Other Views: Allow wilderness burns Our View: Missing teen dilemma Our View: Making room for all Our View: Honor well deserved Letters Letters to the Editor, Feb. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions Guest Column: A Koch and bull story Guest Opinion: A New Year’s resolution you can keep: starting “the conversation” Chris Honoré: Modern media: the unreliable narrator Guest Opinion: The relevance of socialism in the U.S. Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Share your love poems at Downtowne Coffee House Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory Community blog: Applegate Library offers self-publishing workshop Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Theater Classics, premiers highlight 2015 season for OSF Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Insights into the gifts theater offers off the stage Music Frisell brings fine-tuned act to Armory The Farr Side: Trainor building a music niche A laid-back chat with Marilyn Manson Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Jeff Kloetzel at Belle Fiore Visual Art Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 'Whiplash' pounds out a riveting beat Movie review: ‘Mortdecai’ majorly misses the mark Movie review: Aniston’s performance is the icing on ‘Cake’ Movie review: ‘Cake’ showcases Jennifer Aniston at her best Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: What’s in a name? Food for Thought: Sweet potatoes are a versatile vegetable On the importance of kissing Episode 20: Dawn follows her nose Gail Ciampa: Spinach contains an alphabet of vitamins Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business NEWS NOW Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions ... Our View: Bravo to MovieMaker nod ... Calendar: Tuesday, Feb. 3 ... Guest Opinion: Experts couldn't answer pipeline questions ... MOCHA MUSINGS On the importance of kissing Comment By Susanne Severeid DailyTidings.com By Susanne Severeid Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 4:54 pm Updated Feb 2, 2015 at 4:55 PM By Susanne Severeid Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 4:54 pm Updated Feb 2, 2015 at 4:55 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Ringing in the new year • With a little help from my friends • The haiku of a chance meeting » Social News She feels the soft summer breeze. The city lights light up the nighttime sky. There are sounds of traffic, a car horn honking off in the distance. A rooftop terrace in Paris; waiters gliding past with trays of white wine. Stars are overhead, but she doesn't see them. Her eyes are closed. Her soft cheek presses against the stubble of his beard, his hands caress the back of her head, their kisses creating a magnetic field between their lips. Pure magic.  I set down my pen (yes, a pen) from my writing and look around the coffee shop, crowded and buzzing with energy on this weekday morning. All this writing has gotten me thinking about Valentine’s Day. Not about overpriced, sappy cards (though those can be nice, depending on who they're from). Not even about rich, dark chocolate (one of a girl’s best friends). No, what crosses my mind right now is The Importance Of Kissing. You know, the kind of drop-dead kisses that you remember for the rest of your life; that make you feel alive in a way that only that kind of kiss can. The kiss you keep locked in your heart for all time. Kisses that dance with the colors of the prism of life, not the rain that formed the drops. Kisses that make you feel safe, or sexy or loved.  Who among us does not have memories of kisses that bring a smile to our lips, long after warm summer breezes have been replaced by the chill winds of winter? And if you don’t, then you’d better get busy, for tempus fugit. Daily we fret and struggle. We pay bills, we gain and lose weight. We look in the mirror and wonder what happened. We sweat in the gym, get our kids through school. We worry about the future, we mourn for the past. But, in a kiss, we can forget all of that and love ourself, and maybe someone else, too, in the moment. For to swim in a lingering kiss is one of the great joys in life. Kissing — good kissing — makes the heart race, makes us smile, gives us love. Kisses help us heal. They make us happy, they’re sexy, they let us show we care. And look at the other benefits, too. They’re free. And they don’t clog up landfills or waste resources. Think of it as a renewable energy. And there are absolutely no age restrictions, either. So, if on this Valentine’s Day you’re lucky enough to have someone to kiss, and who wants to kiss you, then, I say, do it with gusto and passion and create those kinds of memories I’m talking about. Open your heart and let the juices flow. And if, as the Stephen Stills song says, “You can’t be with the one you love,” then at least blow a kiss to a friend, or give your dog a smooch on the top of the head, or close your eyes and go back to the memory of a really sweet or funny or tender or gentle kiss and let it fill you up with a sense of love and well-being. Let it allow you to be a little kinder, to share a little love, and to love yourself even with your flaws. Kiss well. Kiss often. And be kind to the heart that kisses you. And, remember, on this upcoming Valentine’s Day, that kisses can be even better than chocolate. Well … no, wait a minute. That one I might have to think about. Award-winning author, TV presenter and world traveler Susanne Severeid is an Ashland resident who enjoys making time for the important things in life — including mocha. For more, go to www.susannesevereid.com. Email her at [email protected]. By Susanne Severeid DailyTidings.com By Susanne Severeid Posted Feb. 2, 2015 @ 4:54 pm Updated Feb 2, 2015 at 4:55 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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