On Friday's episode, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe that helped in any reaction I may have had or didn't have in watching. Like all of you, I read/heard that the consummation scenes would air on Friday and continue on Monday. Of course, upon reading/hearing scoops/spoilers like these, it's enough to send all our anticipation to an all-time high, if that's even possible. As I watched Friday's episode, I noticed that all l was focusing on was the mere magnificence of both Stewart and Lenz as performers. The two of them individually and together were making the episode all that much more worth it as usual.

Was I disappointed in not seeing any consummation on Friday? Yes, I was. Was I surprised? No, I wasn't. As far as Friday's episode, I thought the wedding was truly beautiful, the vows were superb and moving (sometimes, when love enters your life when you least expect it, it truly is the best gift and surprise anyone can receive), and the thought behind the basket full of flowers and champagne as well as the beautiful white bed in the midst of Michelle's dream place/fantasy were purely magical, surprising, and loving. Any man who takes the time to even think about the dreams, much less fantasy of the woman of his heart (regardless of it's simplicity, cheesiness, and/or fairytalish corniness as hinted by Michelle herself), is more than proving that he's in love with this woman.

To me, Friday's episode was about Danny surprising Michelle when she least expected it over and over again. It was truly heartwarming, romantic, endearing, and above all sweet. Personally, I didn't notice the chimes as much as I noticed the bed and Michelle grabbing Danny's hand as she practically ran toward it. My expectations weren't really all that high as I watched that show. I think if anyone was understandably disappointed it was in knowing that both Danny and Michelle are above any cheese factors which is why some of us were definitely thrown by it, regardless of knowing it was about Michelle's fantasy. To sum up my feelings on Real Friday's show, I truly enjoyed it, though I understood why some wanted and expected more.

Now, on today's show, well, that's somewhat of a different story. Let me explain what I mean by somewhat. I loved Stewart and Lenz as always. And, never would I complain about either of their performances, because again, in my opinion, they are the drivers in this story. My complaint is in not what we saw, but rather what we didn't see.

What didn't I see that I expected to see? Well, I expected, wrong or right, to see Danny and Michelle make love. If anything, I simply wanted to share in their pure moment of their first time, uninterrupted. Today, it wasn't a commercial interruptance or a cellular phone or family members walking in. No, instead, the interruption came in the form of a decision not to show that moment between Danny gently placing Michelle on the bed and the two of them lying next to each other in each other's arms where they are truly meant to be.

As a viewer, I wanted to simply share in seeing Danny and Michelle have the pleasure of disrobing each other and exploring each other's shoulders, necks, backs, and mouths (of course). Please, don't anyone misunderstand me. It's just that months of months of anticipation should lead to that moment of allowance for the couple to be able to have this first moment between them (and the audience) to see how spectacular and special this moment is.

I love the dialogue that Manny shares like everyone else, but Stewart and Lenz are also physical actors who can say more in their eye contact, their touches, and their kisses than any words could ever say. I think what I'm saying is that I wanted to see THAT particular physical interaction as opposed to just enjoying the pleasures of the dialogue. By the way, I notice how Guiding Light writers rely heavily on their dialogue to substitute for actual scenes (possibly powerful, definitely essential), such as Rick's appearance before the medical board about suspension of his medical license. The GL writers knew what Rick did was wrong to the point that they of course addressed it through dialogue. However, "actions speak louder than words."

It would have been much more powerful if the scenes had taken place onscreen, so hence, we could see it for ourselves, so to speak. In other words, the action sequence would have made more of a dramatic stance just as Danny and Michelle's first moment of love making (song or no song, preferably with song ) would have. I'm not sure I'm making any sense, because I hate to admit that my soap viewing has spoiled me to wanting or expecting to see such a special supercouple make love, particularly for their first time.

I guess I'm spoiled, when it comes to my favorite couples, especially if I waited to share in their glorious, first moment together. The reason I say I'm spoiled in this case is because to me Danny and Michelle are so much more than the physical. They are clearly metaphysical and spiritual, which is touching upon other themes that are very apparent in this extraordinary love story.

My disappointment didn't come in seeing Manny's heartwarming moments together in that beautiful bed. On the contrary, it came in the confusion of not seeing that equally beautiful physical journey "into" that bed. I have loved this special and unique love story from the beginning, and I will continue to love it, primarily because of PAS and JL and the writers understanding of these complex characters and their love story. I just want the writers to understand that the beauty of Manny is in everything about them, not just in their wondrous dialogue.

I am a long time soap viewer who has seen many couples over the years who have had incredible love scenes, particularly if it was their first love scene. It's almost like it is something that this soap viewer has come to expect to see, whether I should or not. So, I was beginning to wonder why was it that Manny's first love scene wasn't shown at a time that it was expected, and highly expected at that. I couldn't come up with any logical answer.

Joie Lenz's age had nothing to do with it, in my opinion. I'm not saying that couldn't be a legitimate explanation, but for some reason I highly doubt it, especially knowing how tasteful the scenes could have been done. Personally, I didn't expect much time to be given to the Manny love scene. However, I did expect to see more than I did. Again, that's not a knock on the beautiful scenes I did see, because they were indeed beautiful. It's just those scenes would have been on even a higher plane, if they were preceded with some similarity to even Danny and Michelle's almost first love scene in Casa Santos, with the two of them kissing and enjoying in the delight of each other.

The moment that Danny had pulled Michelle's blouse off her shoulder in that scene, MY GOD, the "look of pleasure and disbelief" in Danny's eyes were breathtaking. That look left me speechless. I wanted to experience that moment when Danny could move beyond just a glimpse of Michelle's shoulder. Even when he tasted Michelle's shoulder with those tender kisses on Friday, I was waiting on baited breath to see more of that at the beginning of today's episode. I couldn't help it. My anxiety wanted to be met by more of those tender kisses on her shoulder.

Now, like I said, I loved what I did see, but I know that Paul Anthony Stewart and Joie Lenz, being the drivers that they are, were ready and willing to move us finally beyond the glory of the teasing.

Airpoet