HELLO, iVE BEEN "AWAY" FOR A WHILE. i'VE BEEN COMFORTING MY "BEST BUD" OF 20 YEARS WHILE HE LEFT ME FOR ANOTHER PLACE. HE DIED IN MY ARMS ON APRIL 9 .THIS LEADS ME TO TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE WITH JOE.

WE HAD TALKED ON THE PHONE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE WE DECIDED TO MEET HALFWAY BETWEEN OUR RESPECTIVE CITIES.  HE CHOSE A FAMILY TYPE RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH.  I THOUGHT,"  I GUESS ALCOHOL IS NOT A NECESSITY." I WAS USED TO GUYS PULLING UP TO MY CONDO IN A SPORTY OR LXURIOUS CAR WITH FLOWERS AND FOLLOWED BY AN EVENING OF DINNER AND DANCING.  WHEN I SAW HIM PULL UP INTO THE PARKING LOT IN HIS LITTLE RED CAR,, I LOOKED OVER AND SAIDTO MYSELF, "OH, NO, TOO OLD, TOO SHOR,T NOT ENOUGH HAIR. THIS WILL BE THE ONE AND ONLY MEETING."  AFTER LUNCH, WE WALKED TO HIS CAR WHERE HE SHOWED ME PICTURES OF HIS FAMILY   AND THEN WENT TO  A PARK ACROSS THE STREET WHERE WE SAT AT A PICNIC TABLE AND HE SHOWED ME PICTURES OF HIS FAMILY FROM AN ALBUM.    WE FINALIZED OUR DATE WITH A TRIP TO THE LOCAL DAIRY QUEEN.   I THOUGHT" "HOW BIZARRE, AND HOW ABSOLUTELY REFRESHING"!
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THERE IS SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE NATURE CUED TO PICK THE MOST TALL, MOST HANDSOME, MOST STRONG, MOST VIRILE LOOKING MEN   IN ORDER TO CHOOSE THE BEST MATE TO PROTECT US AND SIRE THE BEST CHILDREN. THIS APPLIES TO MEN AS WELL, WHO LOOK FOR THE YOUNGEST, MOST FERTILE AND ATTRACTIVE   WOMEN.   WELL, GUESS WHAT? TtHESE ARE THE WRONG CUES FOR A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP.  WE DON'T NEED PROTECTION AND WE DON'T NEED A VOLATILE, DOMINANT MALE.  

iF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET A MAN WHO IS SHORT, BALD, DOESN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY IS KIND AND GENTLE, WITH WHOM YOU SHARE VALUES AND LAUGHTER AND FUN, GRAB HIM BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES.  IF ONE OF HIS GREATEST PLEASURES IN LIFE IS BEING LOYAL TO YOU AND RUBBING YOUR FEET, YOU'RE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME.

MILLIE