Chapter 8: Tana

The door chimed. Lynda welcomed Tana, who was followed by a distinguished-looking older woman and man, and a nice-looking preppie of college age. They had a mixture of experienced traveler luggage, plus things that looked more designed for business travel ... She was in a professional if somewhat conservative suit, pulling a wheeled suitcase. Indeed, she had a dramatic, wide-brimmed hat, which coordinated with equally dramatic large hoop earrings. The hat was gray, as was her suit, which had a rather bulky jacket and a skirt that went to mid-calf.

The older woman was grandmotherly, warm, and seriously attractive. Let’s be honest and use Grandmother I’d Like to Fuck (GILF). Tana introduced her as Dorothy. Her outfit was a bit reminiscent of a skirted nursing uniform, with a hem at mid-thigh and excellent legs in sheer white hose. Tall and slender, she had a thick silver mane. John, Lynda, and I did doubletakes. Dorothy caught Olivia’s open-mouth stare and returned it. Dorothy and Olivia could have been mother and daughter, or even older and younger sister. Olivia was going to introduce Tana but hadn’t expected the others.

With Dorothy was a male GILF, looking out of a commercial for fifty-year-old cognac, or perhaps “The Most Interesting Man in the World.” Proving the man can make Brooks Brothers outfits look sexy, he was in a grey-and-white Harris Tweed sport jacket, a crisp open-collared blue oxford dress shirt, and what would prove to be close-fitting, soft, stretchy, cashmere pants. Pointing to him, Tana said “Samuel here.” She didn’t seem to have caught the doubletakes, other than realizing that Olivia wasn’t doing it. Samuel moved with athletic grace. He and Dorothy did exchange lusty looks, but there was warmth among the four of them.

She waved to the last, Alan, who looked sexy-preppy, in a blue blazer, striped blue-and-white shirt, and soft gray pants. He also looked athletic, but also perhaps a bit overwhelmed.

Tana took over the more detailed introductions. “I know some of you through the YR’s, where I’m the political volunteer coordinator, which provides basic volunteers for Congressional offices, campaigns and the like. Arnold is my peer but runs political research for the state YRs. Mara does more specialized volunteers. Formally, we all report to the political action VP, Miriam. Since she got her White House job, she mostly advises. Miriam, however, strongly suggested that Olivia, Mara, and I plan being here before and at the convention. She was thinking of me applying my professional specialty, rather than my YR role. She invited us to the White House Mess to discuss this. Miriam, but not Olivia or Arnold, knows what I do outside the YRs. We also had a conference call that included John, who wanted to stay lower-key with the White House.

Tana had a great smile and a lovely voice. Her makeup was gentle. We sat in the chat area and got drinks. I looked again at the four and wondered if I saw a resemblance among them Tana confirmed that I did. “I brought my team, but as I look at Olivia, I wonder if we have another member? “Dorothy is my grandmother and makes it all work. She and Samuel are married but provide some rather intimate services that we’ll talk about. Alan is Samuel’s son, born when they were young. Things are not Neither Dorothy nor Olivia found any reason to think they were related.

“My specialty isn’t well known, but, from these discussions, is relevant to the convention, and to these run-up days. I’m a physician-scientist, in a little-known area of medicine. Let me give you some history there, observing that terminology is important.

“Let’s agree that lots of human activity is driven by competition, be it politics or sex. Personal issues of health or emotion can get in the way of either. I have ways to help, which come from medical and other scientific insights into sex.

• Tune us all to play better together, and have great sex

• Establish us as mentors and guides to people at the convention, where sex is part of power.

I can’t emphasize enough that while I treat sexual dysfunction, my immediate focus is making good sex better, and then helping you communicate with sex.

Sexual science

“Soon, I hope, you’ll find me even more physically interesting. But let me talk a little about the intersection of science and sexuality, where I practice.

“:The first reasonably academic studies of sexuality came from social science or psychiatry. These tended to be case studies rather than looking at groups. Generally, they took the view that fairly minor kinks were pathological -- Kraft-Ebbing called his main 1886 book Psychopathia Sexualis, which regarded homosexuality as pathological. Ellis, in his first 1897 book. was more tolerant of homosexuality and transgenderism, although he’d make us uncomfortable today with his racism and eugenics. Kinsey and others, after WWII, did the first group studies.

The great leap into adding physiology came from Masters and Johnson. Human Sexual Response, about normal physiology, was in 1966, and their book on treatment ofHumanSexual Inadequacy in1970. That would be the key to medicalizing a great many sexual problems and treating them. Before I discuss treatment, though, I’m going to give you some insight on some ways that I can approach them.

“When William Masters first became interested in sexuality, he was a very young doctor. A mentor told him that it would be unwise to go near the subject until he was considered mature, and preferably had a track record in legitimate but nonsexual research. He took the advice, doing a lot of OB/GYN research in residency and practice.

“I am a physician but didn’t wait as long as Johnson. My main residency was OB/GYN, but I also have a PhD in interdisciplinary work between psychology and endocrinology.

“Their books are written in very dense medical language, not accessible to laymen and the farthest thing in the world from sensational. That let knowledge of their work propagate first through professional discussions. Even there, some questioned if the area was legitimate for research, but most agreed that it was.

“I have taken that example to heart, although I didn’t wait to be as old. I do use the Masters & Johnson methods in treating sexual dysfunction, and, when they suffice, I avoid showmanship.

As I said earlier, modern treatment of sexual dysfunction began with the work of William Masters and Virginia Johnson. First, they studied the physiology of normal sexual interaction. Their lab included an artificial phallus and an artificial vagina, containing instruments and cameras. At one of their presentations, a doctor asked if they had introduced the two. That did not amuse Masters, who had carefully removed his sense of humor.

“When they moved to dysfunction and treatment, they began with emotional and sensual intimacy, but not sex acts. A huge part of treating dysfunction is accepting it and not shaming clients. They called their key idea sensate focus, paying attention to people’s own sensations, then non-sexual contact with partners, and only later sexual contact. Of course, today, we have a much better idea of the physiology of sexuality and can help it medically, often with drugs.

“Stroking, hugging, and related contact is a huge part of sensate focus. My own approach takes a more mixed approach to the sensate in sexual, remembering that I don’t only deal with dysfunctional people. For example, the upper body is key in hugging, but it can also involve active movement and stimulation of mobile breasts.”

Lynda noticed that Dorothy wasn’t just nodding to that, but lightly stroking her own chest. She caught Dorothy’s eyes, and got a smile when she ran a finger between her breasts.

“Most treatment of dysfunctional involves a therapist guiding the participants with themselves or each other. In mainstream therapy. a small amount of treatment involves sexual surrogates, or personnel who, under the direction of the therapist, demonstrate and practice sex acts. I use a good deal of work with sex acts, including my own participation.

“Sexual surrogacy was introduced to help one or both partners, in a couple, deal with orgasmic dysfunction, or just intimacy. Later on, the techniques were made available to individuals, either coupled or not. This sort of treatment often takes months. Not all practices take other than couples.

“When I start with a dysfunctional client I start by meeting them, dressed conservatively, being as supportive as possible. If there are quick improvements that can be made to self-image, such as hair or makeup, I get them done ... I do some narrow psychotherapy, calling in other therapists where possible. If people have problems, they also need a comprehensive medical history and physical.

“If dysfunction isn’t the situation, I first may meet being a lot more glamorous, as a possible example. Ideally, Dorothy sees them first, very gently, and clues me how to present.

“Alan here is in surrogate training. While some surrogacy can be nondramatic and cuddly, some clients need the surrogate to be much more overt. Arnold, I hope you don’t mind, but Lynda shared with me that it helps you a lot for a woman to be provocative, explicitly sex-positive, and overt. You came up with your own treatment, for what I wouldn’t term full dysfunction but still an impairment.

“Yes, that’s true. I trust her if she told you about that.”

“So, I tone down my appearance, until changes will help my interaction. Let me give you a gentle sample of how I come across in situations other than the YRs. She turned to John and me, and whipped off her hat, to reveal pinned-up brilliant red hair. Smiling, Olivia and Lynda surrounded her. It looked like they were doing something at the height of her head. When the pins came out, brilliant red hair cascaded to her waist.

When they moved away, I realized they had been taking pins out of her hair. She stood and shook her head, releasing cascades of flaming red, shining, hair that fell nearly to her waist. “My hair needs some brushing, but any surprise?”

“Much more dramatic than I had imagined.”

“Again following the Masters & Johnson precedent, I would never go to a first meeting with dramatic hair, much less the wilder look you’ll soon see. On the other hand, while many surrogates would never try this, but I may look dramatic do it on a case-by-case basis. That sometimes helps people with worthiness problems.

“All right, the next step in the preliminary drama.” She took off the jacket, revealing a satiny blouse that was tight, but didn’t seem to show a normal breast curve. Again, the ladies helped her, although she mostly was doing that mysterious thing that let women remove their bras without taking off their tops. Indeed, they tossed what seemed a heavyweight bra to the side.

Now, although the blouse wasn’t super-revealing, it was obvious that she had quite a large bust. She wiggled her shoulders, which caused some delightful movement of the chest. I noticed that the blouse clung to distinct nipples. “Again, gentlemen, just a preliminary look, but am I more interesting?”

John said, “Speaking as someone who doesn’t know you, with no preconceptions, I’m finding you interesting. My sense is that you have a lot more to show us.”

“Absolutely correct, John. Now, we women are going to do one of those group expeditions to the rest room, or in this case, a bedroom.” We four men accepted puzzlement but began socializing.

Transformation

Olivia was the first back, in a plain black jumpsuit. I realized that she was in the Japanese tradition of kabuki stagehands being invisible. She set up a couple of lights, apparently for a posing area.

Lynda followed, having changed into an outfit that easily could have come from the seedy, sexy, Kit Kat Klub of Cabaret. She started music, and posed boldly, touching breasts lifted by her corset. Lynda touched what looked like a tie at the side of her panties, which covered stockings from her corset, and in a lisping accent like that of Lily von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles, asked rhetorically, “Open these now? No, only after the main event ... Tana!” Entry music began.

Into it came someone who I suppose had to be Tana, but whom I would not have recognized. What I did see, however, is a real woman very much in the style of Jessica Rabbit, but in a lovely club dress rather than an exaggerated costume.

She wore a skin-tight, hot pink dress, its hem high on her thigh. It had a high neck and covered her chest but clung so closely that there was no question that her breasts were both erect and very large, nipples poking at the fabric.

Dramatically, she turned around, revealing a toned bare back, against which her hair danced. Her waist nipped in sharply, expanding to slim hips and high, firm buttocks.

“Now, gentlemen, do I satisfy your desires of a woman who wants to be provocative and happily accepts your tasteful sexual interest? Honestly, there are times that a surrogacy client needs that. But right now, I’m not thinking of therapy, but of fun for all of us. Interested?”

Olivia was breathing hard. “Not speaking for anyone else, but you’re appealing to some of my urges. Lynda enjoys it when I play with her boobs, which are larger than mine.”

“Tana, I like to have a long, lean, female body writhing against mine. I’m not looking for a clone.” That got a little groan from John.

“Tana,” I told her, “It’s your total look that excites me most. God, that face makeup tells me how much I’d like to kiss you hotly. I haven’t yet seen your groin, but I’d sure as hell like to kiss and lick up your legs.

“Let me emphasize, Tana, that my being able to say that explicitly is a really good think. You, and the overall scenario, make me feel safe and encouraged. Now, rather than begging permission, I ask that you just tell me what appeals most at the moment.”

Tana’s face lit up. Olivia and Lynda hugged both of us. “Dear, there’s little that I don’t like. I try to be sensual as well as sexual, both personally and in my practice. I’ve asked the ladies to help me explain.

Grinning, Lynda unrolled a poster of the diminutive elderly sex adviser and former Israeli sniper, Ruth Wertheimer. In a fair approximation of Dr. Ruth’s tones, she cried out, “Goot sex!”

“What do you think of my presentation? Do I turn you on? I’m not trying to come across as a clinician.” There was much agreement. “Arnold, let me reinforce that, since I’m told you love legs. Ever seen Basic Instinct?” She crossed her legs in the classic scene from that movie, flashing that she wore no panties. “You’ll get a better look later.”

Olivia returned, in a silver dress similar to Tana’s. Olivia tossed her long blonde hair, knelt next to Tana, and rubbed her face against Tana’s chest. The music got more dramatic. Lynda hugged me from behind.

“No question. While I still want to give pleasure, I’m not going to ask permission. Obviously, if anything is a problem, go ‘safeword’.”

“Love, we just went out of the surrogate model into something that might be new for all of us.” Lynda mused, “It might be dominant, although I’m not sure that fits. Assertive comes to mind.

In the realm of the senses: couples

“Let’s set up couples -- teams -- for the first round. We will switch around later, unless anyone objects?” Everyone agreed that they had no objections.

“This is going to be a shortened demonstration of sensate focus and beyond, but I think it will be informative. The man and woman should face one another, in chairs or on couches.

• Tana and Arnold

• Dorothy and John

• Olivia and Alan

• Lynda and Samuel

Tana explained, “Lots of different sensations go into sensuality and sexuality. Sensate focus is the starting point. Sometimes, though, we start with visualization and talking, but no contact at all.