America's Lovebirds Set A New Standard In PDAs

Simply stated, I adore PDAs.

I come from a very cold family, Nordic, Midwestern family . . . a home in which we expressed almost no physical affection. When I arrived in New York many years ago, my first job was at Saks Fifth Avenue, where I managed about 150 Jewish lady immigrants and our stockroom staff, comprised largely of Carribean-born African Americans.

They were always touching me, hugging me, yanking my hand . . . laughing, yelling, arguing, then making peace with each other. I was so touched by the warmth of both these Jewish women who were adopting me every other day and also the ladies from the Caribbean, that I often found my eyes welling up with tears.

I ended up in their homes and also that of the first African American buyer at Saks, a woman named Edna Roberts, who became a dear friend.

Because of my exposure to New York's Jewish and African American cultures, I became a very different person, someone who is now totally into physical self-expression. I have such gratitude to both cultures for helping me to unlock this side of myself.

When I see these photos of Barack and Michelle Obama, taken by Pete Souza and part of more at Huffington Post, I am so thrilled that images like this are splashed all over the news media, as a reminder of just how much two people can adore each other.

They are an inspiration to us all, and I truly believe they will set a new standard for romance in the White House.

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