Anticedents

From time to time I come back to this topic - where in our transition from boys to men did we become so fascinated with breasts.

Still after 35 years together, my partner still wonders why I am so fascinated with breasts.

We were talking about this again the other day when I remembered what it was like going through early puberty. All these people (ie girls) who used to be more or less just other friends started developing into women. The most obvious external sign of this change was their development of breasts. Even as a father of four (now all adult) daughters, I can have no real idea what this is like for a woman. I can imagine its a bit exciting. Growing up is.

More to my point here is that I do know what it was like as an observer. One the one hand it's fascinating. I would have liked to have known what it was like. What does it feel like? What is it like wearing a bra? How does a bra work? What are all the different types of bras for? Do you feel sexy having breasts? Do you like to show them off? All of a sudden you are starting wear interesting things under your tops - things I now know the names of but then did not. Things like chamisoles.

All this is interesting for an observer, but you know you are not allowed to ask. So you peek. You do want to know what your erstwhile friend's breasts look like but you are not allowed to see them. They become a secret part of a woman's world and they become something that creates a barrier between girls and boys.

I do wonder if our fascination has something to do with wanting to break this barrier down. It doesn't operate at a conscious level but I really do think it's there.