Funny that so far, we all grew up in non-hugging families. Somewhere along the line as an adult, I gradually became comfortable with hugging. I didn't go through any sensitivity training... I think it was just a natural response to having people hug me as a greeting and a goodbye. At first, I was very uncomfortable with it because it was something I had rarely experienced. Now, it seems like the most natural thing in the world and I don't find it any less natural hugging a male friend than a female.

While all of these changes were taking place in my life, a thousand miles away my family was evolving into a family of huggers. My Dad was the last hold-out. He'd accept a hug with an "Aw shucks" bashfulness, but never took the initiative, himself. My suspicion is that thre's been a societal change, not a coincidental change of millions of people. I can't prove it for a fact, but it seemed to start hapenning when we all started using flouride... :-)

Jerry