December 18, 2008--Spooning

We’ve been spooning again. This has become a tradition down here in Florida. Our first night we find ourselves curled up in bed, both lying on our left sides, nestled together like two spoons in the silverware drawer.

A simple physical metaphor, spooning, until I wondered if the verb used in many love songs, to spoon, derives from the same innocent bedtime fetal position. The clichéd June-moon-spoon rhyme scheme.

A few clicks on the computer takes me to Google and this then opens a world of interesting factoids. Yes, spooning appears as expected to describe what we have been up to after midnight; but to spoon is totally unrelated, though it too is clearly uncoitally amatory.

There is no certainty, but it may be of Welsh origin and even come from the custom of presenting one’s fiancée with and elaborately carved wooden spoon. Though it’s hard to think how songs might be inspired by this.

Then again there’s a lot more at work than this.

It appears that scientists have been studying spooning. For example:

“There are biological and psychological benefits to this kind of physical contact,” explains Dr. Guy Grenier, a clinical psychologist and professor of human sexuality.
He says there are certain chemicals released into the system when we have physical contact, and they are stimulated by spooning. “We can’t do much better than the spooning position,” Grenier adds.
And of course New Agers have their view which may be closer to the truth:
According to Jonathan Robinson’s “Communication Miracles for Couples,” spooning is believed to create a harmonious energy flow in the Chinese system of medicine. When a couple feels stressed or argumentative, spooning helps decrease the agitated state.

This sounds like us when we get to Florida, that is until the ocean and the sun and the breezes take us over.