The Greatest Pleasure in Life

I suppose, it's different for everyone. (listening to: "Parallel Stripes" by Aphex Twin)

In the words of Conan the Barbarian: "To see your enemies driven from you, and to hear the lamentations of the women!!"
In the words of Eddie Izzard: "Bacon and eggs... pot of hot coffee bubbling away... freshly-squeezed-mango-juice."
In the words of the Madjai: "Sleeping next to someone."

Yeah.. You heard me. Oh, sure there are more complex pleasures (chief among those being a slice of vanilla bean cheesecake), and there are more, shall we say, hedonistic pleasures (I heard Jessica Simpson is single again... and isn't she "friends" with Reese Witherspoon? Hmm).

But, really, in case you haven't tried it, you should try sleeping next to someone. Sure, there's the whole "naked and sweaty" aspect to that. And, if that's your cup of tea, go for it. More power to you. But, really.. the joy of just cuddling on the couch, watching TV, or reading, and just looking at each other, and deciding it's time for bed is... well, it's just great. Pajamas are put on, covers are pulled back, pillows fluffed, and there's that awkward moment of.. how do we arrange the cuddling here? And then... bliss. You settle into each other's arms, your breathing slows down, and then matches the other person's. You can hear their heart beating time with yours, and you intertwine fingers and legs as you settle in for the night.

If you're really lucky, you get to thinking about some random thing, and the next thing you notice, the other's person's breathing has become deeper, and you realize that they're asleep. You watch their eyelids flutter as they begin to dream, and you pull the hair back from their face as you just watch them. And then, without really knowing it... you're asleep too.

Feeling so close to someone. So close that they'd allow you to experience the most relaxing thing they engage in. So safe, so intimate. THAT is the greatest pleasure in this life.

...

And it's been FAR too long since I've experienced that. And I think that is what I miss the most, of all the things I've lost.