My parents were affectionate but not in front of non-family.

My sister and her husband have been married 36 years. I haven't seen them kiss or act affectionate since their wedding though I know their marriage is one based on love and steadfastness.

How do I know?

My sister and the man who became her husband had been dating a short time when she became ill with rheumatic fever and nearly died. At the time, she was in 10th grade and he was a junior. He didn't miss one day of visiting her during the month she was in the hospital nor a single day of her six month recuperation. They've been together ever since.

After he graduated, he attended college out of town but drove home every weekend to see her.

In turn, she has seen him through a potentially fatal heart infection, moved with him to California leaving all her family behind and turned around eighteen years later to return to the east coast.

Not everyone is free with their kisses and hand-holding in public yet the love and respect is inherent in their relationship.

I cannot picture a woman who wouldn't use the "F" word (she substituted 'flying flip') discussing oral sex or her husband's penis with anyone except her mother or sisters. Certainly not her part-time cleaning lady.

Correction, definitely not her cleaning lady.

She may have mentioned sex was not as enjoyable as it had been prior to her chemo--but I doubt it.

Rainsong