I’ve seen this several times now and I think it must be a new love ritual. Two people, sharing one iPod, each with one of the two earbuds in their respective ear.

I saw yet another young couple doing this the other day. They were leaning in toward each other, looking down, apparently intent on the song they were sharing. One little white wire snaked up toward her ear; the other was planted firmly in his.

A little emotional force field seemed to surround them. They weren’t, of course, speaking. But they were sharing some kind of intimate non-verbal moment. Judging by the looks of things, this was something of a love experience.

Maybe in the future all acts of love will be consummated by way of a portable electronic device. It’s possible. It would certainly eliminate plenty of the essential messiness of human interaction.

On the other hand – at the risk of making an obvious point – a little something would be lost…