Did you say cuddle parties!?!

Back sometime last year my old roommate, Erin, was telling me about cuddle parties. I was completely baffled by them, but yet curious. So, I googled cuddle parties, and here's what I found. Apparently, this isn't an adult version of Spin The Bottle or Seven Minutes In Heaven. In fact, Cuddle Parties have apparently been sweeping the nation! OK, so now that you're intrigued, please read more about this below, I basically grabbed all the info from the website.
Here's the skinny on cuddle parties...

• "It is an event for adults to get together and explore affectionate touch and communication without it becoming sexualized. At these events, we create the safe space to talk about and explore what our needs are as adults when it comes to affection, intimacy and welcomed touch. In other words, CUDDLING!"
• A structured, safe workshop on boundaries, communication, intimacy and affection. A drug and alcohol-free way to meet fascinating people in a relaxing environment. A laboratory where you can experiment with what makes you feel safe and feel good.
• This playful, fun workshop has been a place for people to rediscover non-sexual touch and affection, a space to reframe assumptions about men and women, and a great networking event to meet new friends, roommates, business partners and significant others.
• Can Cuddle Party restore your faith in humanity? It just might. But at the very least, you'll have a great time, and leave feeling relaxed and inspired.
• There's even a Cuddle LIFEGUARD on duty!
• These parties are hosted by people who invite people to get together to cuddle; some of these people coming together are perfect strangers.
• Oh, and there are rules!
  

The RULES!!!! (yup, there are actual rules to this)

WHAT TO WEAR: Pajamas - nothing too risque. Think more comfy than sexy. (More drawstrings, less lace! No shorts.)

WHAT TO BRING: A pillow or stuffed animal if you like. Juice or sparkling cider is always welcome. Sorry, no liquor folks. Otherwise, just bring your smiling self.

STICK TO THE RULES:

1. Pajamas stay on the whole time.
2. You don't have to cuddle anyone at a Cuddle Party, ever.
3. You must ask permission and receive a verbal YES before you touch anyone. (Be as specific in your request as you can.)
4. If you're a yes, say YES. If you're a no, say NO.
5. If you're a maybe, say NO.
6. You are encouraged to change your mind anytime you want.
7. Respect your relationship agreements and communicate with your partner.
8. Get your Cuddle Lifeguard On Duty or Cuddle Caddy if you have a question or concern or need assistance with anything during the Cuddle Party.
9. Tears and laughter are both welcome.
10. Respect people's privacy when sharing about Cuddle Parties and do not gossip.
11. Arrive on time.
12. Be hygienically savvy.

Thoughts???
I know after reading some of this you guys are thinking what the butt!?! And you have lots of questions. There's an FAQ section that I suggest checking out for more information.

But, one thing that I keep thinking about is this need for intimacy. We crave or desire intimacy so much that we have people out there who create parties so that one can obtain such desired intimacy. Furthermore, I keep thinking about one of Mark Miller's old sermon's re: we were created to have a legitimate need for intimacy with Our Creator, but we, at times, seek intimacy through illegitimate ways. Perhaps cuddle parties are the epitome of this illegitimate need for intimacy?

I find this whole thing VERY intriguing. I mean, going to a party wearing my pajamas and laying around hugging random people??? That's just creepy, in some ways, and I would submit that I'm someone who's pretty affectionate and doesn't mind receiving hugs or giving hugs, but spooning with people I don't know or going to a social event so that I can spoon seems creepy. But is it? I don't know. I once heard that humans need at least 7 touches a day or something like that. And, certainly, this party would give you a full week's worth of touches. It's definitely something, um, different.

What are your thoughts about this?

Has anyone gone to a cuddle party?

Would anyone out there actually go to cuddle party?

Running away

I can't recall how many times I thought about running away as a kid. The one time I can actually remembering running away I was either 5 or 6. I remember being really upset with my mom. Like crying then threatening I would run away; then I went into to my bedroom and packed my stuff. I actually got a stick and tied bandanna on it, I put a few things in it. Then I walked out the front door, of course sniffing and making a scene... my last words being "Bye. I'm NEVER coming back!" [Then I think I heard I Will Survive playing as background music.] The hobo like run away stick sat over my little shoulders as I turned around hoping my mom would come after me.

A few seconds later, my mom followed me trying to convince me to come back, of course I'm pretty sure she was trying not to laugh because I had the hobo stick on my shoulder. She said something about the 'Boogie Man' would be out there lurking around the corners, THAT was someone who definitely scared me a bit. But I remember that I was VERY determined to run away with my hobo stick. I'm not sure why I thought to make one of those hobo / run away stick-bandanna things, but I did. Perhaps I watched Tom and Jerry too much? Regardless, me and my hobo stick made it a couple houses up the street. I'm not sure if I knew where I was going to go, but I think as soon as my mom turned around and walked back inside the house after she unsuccessfully tried to convince me to come back, was surprisingly the exact moment that I decided to saunter back home. I had made a scene, a VERY dramatic one.

I think I still contemplate running away. Strange to think someone in her late 20s really has thought about just leaving and running away from it all. The thought has crossed my mind a few times especially when I drive east on I-70 to DIA (Denver Int'l Airport) I think about driving back home to Oklahoma instead of picking up my friend or catching my flight\; and, running away from responsibility here in Denver. Starting over. Hmm, more like returning back to my vomit, albeit.

I think we run away, perhaps not physically per se, but rather from things in life when it gets too hard. We close off from people; stop showing up to things like church or meetings, or perhaps even not returning phone calls or emails. Avoiding is a form of running. I know, I invented it. The times I've run or thought about running like being mad at my mom when I was kid, or work or life in Denver gets too rough and I just want to bail and go back home. Running. I"m really just running away from what's difficult and challenging.

You know those people who have that glamorous adventurous life (hopping from one country to the next or city to city stateside) perhaps they are really just running away? From what? Being an adult? Settling down? Fear of failure in life? Fear of being sucked into the 'American Dream' and sitting behind a desk all day long? However, I still admire them, and would love to join them, again.

Me and my hobo stick are far from running these days. I will face life's challenges. I think Visa once said something about going where life takes you or something along those lines.

I'm going, not running (away).