Maverick, the feeling is important of course, and if we're talking about that I would go farther and pose the question of what it is that we're feeling. You mentioned interpretation of actions and expressions, and I think that's where anything like words or even touch (I happen to be a massage therapist) is obviously not immediate, because it does go through this process of interpretation doesn't it? I understand that people can be touch starved just like some people needs to hear that they're loved, and in a way we might say it's all important, even if one is more important for you as an individual. Getting back to the question of what it is we feel, I think if we pay attention we'll see that there are a number of different feelings, but you might feel all of them at the same time too. It's certainly nice and beautiful when there's a strong romantic attraction, but my feeling on the matter is why not have that fuller love that is something of a full spectrum of feelings? I think this experience is so foreign to most that when it does happen they think it's something different, when it is simply experiencing different kinds of love all at the same time. I'd imagine this is what people tend to look for in a relationship, you can be lovers and best friends, there's connection on every level. In a way you might say it is deeper, because there's the sense that other feelings, including romantic attraction is a secondary manifestation of that deeper feeling.
Again, let me be clear that I think all these expressions are important, but I have found that practically no expression is even needed, and for some reason I no longer feel touch starved. The most powerful exprience I have had has to be when it is simply looking at another in silence, so neither words nor physical contact was needed. But I'm not saying it's about visuals either, it just so happens that when you look to see something you do take it all in at the same time, so it is easier to see it through vision. From what I can see it is a function of awareness, rather than any pathways like language or sensory triggers. In a way it just means that whatever gesture that makes you feel love, you can make it richer by bringing more awareness to it. Then again, there's no harm throwing in a combination even if you're big on touch right? For example, imagine holding someone you love, looking into their eyes and telling them "I love you" all at the same time - it's got every one of those elements. But none of that will do anything if you do it mechanically, just imagine an inept teenager following this pattern as a set of instructions on love or something. Awareness simply influses any gesture of affection with life, you might say it is that which embraces the other person, taking them into your heart - and when that really happens the beloved is hard pressed to not be aware of it, even if they don't know what exactly is going on. So I say it's all good, but just be aware that the good stuff is what's underlying the expressions. It's pretty simple really, we all know the voice behind the words and how something is said is important, just as there's a difference to the quality of touch with different people or even the same person at different times. By the way, you mentioned the moment - the present moment is nothing but being aware of what's going on, being completely in touch. You're always in the present, that's pretty much a given. What varies is the quality of the experience, which again is a matter of how aware you are. I know this isn't what you're saying, but even if someone was just interested in feelings I say you don't know what you're missing until you approach it this way, because it adds another whole new dimension to it.