39 Things That Are Better than Sex

Dear Blog Readers:

Some of you want more contests. There will be one in a few weeks.

Others asked if I’d share a column I wrote for AARP. One that got a lot of ‘likes’ is “50 Things that are better Than Sex (2012). 20 years earlier, after seeing A Scent of a Woman, in which Al Pacino’s Frank Slade says that there is nothing as wonderful as sex, but driving a Ferrari is a close second, I wrote a similar listicle for New Woman, using not just what I came up with, but also the responses of both male and female friends.

“10?” said the first guy I polled. “I can’t even think of one.”

“Only 10?” said the first woman. “I can think of more just related to shopping!”

I polled others. (Mostly women others) And used things of my own (predating J, of course)

Here are 39:

Finding a dentist who is only very — not outrageously —expensive
Telling a know-it-all-relative she paid too much for her designer clothes
Watching Gene Kelly dance in Singin’ in the Rain
Watching Paul Newman do anything
Sharing your scariest, innermost feelings with a very close friend — and discovering she has them, too.
Getting that skirt you hadn’t worn in two seasons over your hips
A long, tight hug
Knowing that even in some small way, you have made a difference
Knowing yourself
In Scrabble, getting a triple-word score using all seven letters

Having a doctor who talks to, not at, you
No longer being forced to line up in size places
No longer being forced to play piano for the relatives
Playing piano for yourself and mastering your favorite Chopin prelude
Making music with other people
Making music with other people on key
Listening to Frank (Sinatra)

Being frank
Taking an afternoon nap and waking up refreshed
Bumping into someone you haven’t seen in years who says, “You haven’t changed a bit!”
Knowing in certain ways that he doesn’t get and you aren’t about to explain, you have changed. .
Having your haircut turn out exactly like the magazine picture you showed the stylist
Staring at Michelangelo’s David
The food in Italy
Italy
Returning a vicious spin in Ping-Pong
Silence
Running into the prom queen from your high school and wondering how she ever wore that crown
Swimming 40 laps in a heated pool
Having a lane to yourself
Having a good laugh that’s not at someone else’s expense
Having a grandchild
Playing and snuggling with him
Seeing what a loving parent your child has become
Having the proper rejoinder at the party and not later when you’re flossing at home
Having a friend with whom you can giggle about sex
Fantasizing about sex
Writing about sex
And last, but far from least, remembering sex.