As I took a break from work, I picked up my Blackberry and noticed the icon indicating I had a new Facebook notification. I scrolled to the "f" and clicked. What I saw sent shockwaves through my body.  "What the..."  I muttered under my breath. My eyes popped out of my head but not before squinting and revising the text to be sure I was really reading what I was reading.  "You've got to be kidding me!"  I incredulously said in a louder tone. My coworker (and friend), Ashley, looked up over her computer at me. My eyes bulged again. "What?!  What's going on?!"  I asked her to give me a minute and I'd explain. I needed to talk, get a drink of water and make sense of the fact that I had just been Friend Requested by...him…

My friend Monica recently hit it off with a guy at a party. They snuck off to a corner, chatting for hours about the things men and women chat about when they are first connecting. (She must have been pretty engrossed as she missed my calls and texts!)  We finally caught up a few days later for the debriefing. Inquiring minds, especially those of a fellow single girlfriend, wanted to know!  I almost fell out of my chair when she told me that, after all that, he didn't even ask for her number!  Really? Is this what we're working with?  Is that all there is? I vented. Then I was left speechless (and I'm rarely speechless!) when she said he had the nerve to Facebook friend her after the fact. I repeat, really?!  Is this what we're working with?  Is that all there is?    

Dear Thirties,

It was so nice to finally meet you!  You were so gracious and welcoming.  I loved every minute celebrating the commencement of our relationship.  Now that the celebrations have died down and we are settling in together, I just wanted to let you know how I feel about you and what I am looking forward to in our journey together.  

Dear Twenties,

It seems like only yesterday I was introduced to you. We started our relationship together with a party so legendary that people still talk about it today.  And that night, as I slept off that Three Wise Men shot, I dreamt of our next ten years together, of the life depicted in movies and reinforced in real life.  The life in which a few tumultuous single years are followed by love, marriage and a baby carriage.  However, you had other plans for me.  Plans that would challenge me to suck it up, grow up and challenge me to embrace and retain that child-like wonder. Plans that would show me the richness and fullness of my life just as it was.  It didn’t happen overnight and it certainly wasn’t easy, but anything worth anything is never easy!