Hugging Day

Embracing the year seems to involve plenty of actual embracing. My day has been one of multiple hugs.

Statistically, this is the most depressing day of the year. Though I remain unsure as to how 'statistical' that is, they seem to have nailed it - it hasn't stopped raining yet and there's talk of a global recession. I can only think that's why Hugging Day was declared. Details can be found at http://www.geocities.com/hugging_whining/Hugging.html
I'm especially amused by their suggestions of 'How to Celebrate Hugging Day', particularly
"Make or rent a bear costume and visit children or senior adults as a 'Bear Hugger'."
I'm also very disturbed by this guy: http://www.hugnation.com/
There's definitely a limit to how much people should hug.

A brief review of my Hugging Day suggests that it has spread joy. It's also made me look like a complete nutter, with all the restraint of the sort of deviants housewives throw rotten vegetables at. In the kitchen this morning, my housemate Mark looked very confused when I hugged him (it was a very long hug). His response, sadly, was to check that his watch was still there.

I found that 'hugging politics' exists. Having hugged several people, you feel obliged to complete an full 'higging circuit' of the entire room. This reached a head (literally) when my office mate put me in a headlock and attempted some form of yogic/wrestling move that left me feeling dizzy for quite a while. My squash partner also instinctively resisted my post-match hug by placing his hand firmly on my chest and demanding an explanation.

To avoid such akwardness, I created me a sign. It worked a charmer - people love thinking that they are getting something for nothing. The sad news is that the last hug of the day was promptly sick in her hands, rushed to the toilet, had an asthma attack and was last seen being carried out on a stretcher to an ambulence. There endeth Hugging Day.