HOME

PHOTOS &
CURRENT COLUMNS

FANS' FAVORITE FIVE

COLUMNS BY
SUBJECT

My good friend, Ralph, studied his buttered roll before he took the first bite. “I’ve been thinking, and I’ve changed my mind. You should get back together with Cool-guy.”

My head spun around so fast it’s amazing it didn’t go whizzing through my dining room window. “You’ve changed your mind? The break up had nothing to do with you.”

He sipped his water. “You two were good together, Holly. You really were. You traveled all over the place.”

“That has nothing to do…”

“Europe. Hawaii. Florida. North Carolina. Not a lot of people like to travel as much as the two of you did.”

“That has nothing to do….”

“And.” He interrupted again. “You had a lot of fun together. You liked to hike and camp and visit family. You’ve made a mistake. Go back to him.”

I stared at Ralph. Should I yell or talk? Yell or talk? “Ice-cream!” I yelled, moving quickly to the freezer. “You need something to cool you down.” I pulled the chocolate out of the freezer, added a spoon and handed him the container. “Preoccupation breeds contentment.”

He ate the ice-cream quietly. Ha. See. I know how to quiet him. Chocolate has always been his pacifier.

“You two ate the same foods. Liked the same movies.”

Why was he torturing me? “You know. The dessert hasn’t changed the topic. You don’t deserve it.” I snatched it from his hands, threw the spoon in the sink and tossed it into the freezer. Ok. He was getting on my nerves. I was facing another Ralph-ism. He always pulls the opposite of what I expect out of left field. I lowered my voice.

“He said he didn’t love me all the way. He announced fifteen months into our relationship that he loved me, just not all the way, and I should keep in mind that he didn’t know if I fit into his future.”

“Go back to him. Go and have some fun. Go to Mexico for Christmas like you’re supposed to.”

“He said when I returned to work, he had more time to think about us… and now he’s sure that he isn’t so sure about our bond.”

Ralph leaned forward. “Why are you taking it all so seriously? Have some fun.” He poured dressing on his salad.

“No.” I sat down next to him. “Sorry. But. This is big. He doesn’t love me all the way…. He doesn’t know if I even fit into his life. Do you want me to sit around and wait for him to decide? Um. No. No way.” I wiped up the dressing he spilled on the table. “I released him to enjoy his confusion alone. I’ve wished him luck in finding his ‘true love.”

He stared at me. “Take him back.” He bit into his roll. “Take him back.”

“You want me to spend all my time with a man who’s forcing his feelings cause his head thinks I’m perfect, while he’s waiting for his heart to catch the spark? Love’s the cement. I just found out we had no cement.”

A half shrug. “Fun?”

I held my pleating hands out in front of me. “Come on, Ralph. I was in it for love. Would you date someone just for the travel benefits?”

“Nope.” He started eating his salad. “Never. Life’s too short.”

“Then?” I was ready to wrestle him into a forever choke. “Why would you want me to go back to a half-hearted love?”

He spoke with a full mouth. “I don’t want you to go back. I was just messing with you. Can you lighten up, please?”

I hung my head in my hands and let out a pitiful laugh. “OhmyGod. You really are an awful friend” I pushed my salad away.

“Come on.” He said, pushing my salad closer to me. “Isn’t that what you look for in a man? Someone to make you laugh?”

Note to self: Never start a food fight in your own apartment.

Wanna try another column? How about #202 Thanksgiving Perspective, which is about everyone having something to say...

or Click here to go to Current Columns to pick another column. Or perhaps you would like to go to Column Finder by Subject to choose your next column about dating, or epilepsy or friends... you choose!

Don't miss out! Sign up to receive a free copy of Holly's column via e-mail each week. (All e-mail addresses are private... NEVER, EVER shared.)

Or send a blank e-mail to Holly@livingthelifeofholly.com Subject: Subscribe Me.

Comment on this column in The Forum

Or

Send Holly your comments. Tell her what you really think! Your comments might be published on her website, or in her weekly Yahoo Group e-mail. Send Comments

Wanna vote for your favorite column? Fan's favorite column picks will be added to the Fan's Favorite Five page. Send your pick for your favorite here. Fan's Favorite Column Pick

Copyright © 2003 by Holly Winter
www.livingthelifeofholly.com
All Rights Reserved