Mary Cox:  

I very recently re-connected with a very dear friend of mine whom I honestly believed had become only a collection of memories. After our initial 2-hr. phone convo, followed by a string of calls and letters and e-mails, it was as if the twenty-some-odd years hadn't really passed at all. We had lunch together one day and I seriously had to ask her if I was in fact at all the same person I was when we met in high school. Without hesitation she said yes and that really was all I needed to validate the fact that I hadn't lost myself in what was an extremely sad caricature of what a 21-yr relationship should look like. I pulled all the strength I could muster to finally quit beating on that dead horse and walk away for good. And to gratefully accept all the strength, love, and support given by my beautiful children, my always patient mother, my devoted little sister who makes me laugh everyday, and of course my world-wise friends who've stuck by me and are now the recipients of the friendship they deserve from the REAL MARY. I am now embracing life as a gift which is meant to treasure, but for the first time I appreciate tearing off the bow and ripping into the wrapping paper to experience what's inside that much sooner. I want it ALL and I want it NOW. I am finding that I am okay with being single the rest of my life because I'm pretty interesting as well as fun to be around~~I am also open to finding someone to share life with but they have to like me at LEAST as much as I like myself!! I need to upda...Expand for more