The first post in the June Carnival of Aces came in from Something Queer to Read. The post opens discussing the topic for June, saying “I’m thinking that thepleasuresallmine chose this theme on purpose –also considering the subject of her blog in general- just to hear all of our little dark secrets…” I was a little surprised by this, since I tried to go beyond sexual/physical pleasure in my prompt ideas (and I’m definitely not trying to pry into “little dark secrets”), but it also made me realize that I haven’t really discussed other kinds of pleasure on this blog yet — so let’s do that!
One of my favorite kinds of pleasure is the adrenaline rush of anticipation and exciting rush of roller coasters. I remember my first upside-down coaster, at Busch Gardens — just a single loop, but it opened up a whole new world of flying and turning through the air, laughing and screaming in delighted terror. Dueling Dragons at Universal Studios is a great one, Batman at Six Flags, Rockin’ Roller Coaster at Disney… I was lucky enough to go to a bunch of these places when I was younger, but I haven’t been on one in years. All this reminiscing is making me want to run out and get a ticket to something fast and spinning and flying upside down.
My other favorite (assuming you can multiple entries in a superlative category) involves no movement at all, but I still feel the pleasure as a physical sensation. I love reading. Detective novels, classics, fantasy and sci-fi, modern lit, queer and feminist theory, etc. I love books as physical objects, though I understand the utility of a kindle. But I like paper pages and old covers and the smell of dust and cloth and leather in libraries. And the rush I get from reading feels very similar to the excitement of roller coasters, a buzzing in my brain and flutter in my chest over a thrilling plot or new idea. BTW, I’m a huge nerd.
These pleasures are physical, in terms of how they register in my brain and body, but not sexual in the way that masturbation and orgasm are, or are understood. These are some of the great pleasures in my life, and I will seek them out as often as possible.
Thanks to Something Queer to Read for getting the conversation going. Please consider contributing to the Carnival of Aces!
The Pleasure's All Mine 