Well, Elaine replied to me about staying friends. She was cool with it. She said I am a lot of fun but that she didn't want to lead me on. She apologized again about having to use email to tell me. Given the way her marriage was, even though it was a long, long time ago, she obviously has problems with confrontation and just asserting herself, I think. I have those same problems too.

I still think about asking her what happened that night before the movie. Things seemed to be going great up until then. I know she likes to do things on Sunday afternoon, after church. I think I'll invite her over for an early dinner and maybe to watch a DVD. I'll get her a little liquored up and ask her what I said that made her pull back. I don't think I'll get the brutal truth but it would be something.

There is a karmic aspect to all this. I am now, sort of, in the same position as Mary Ann. She has the hots for me but I only want to be friends with her. Now the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak. I have the hots for Elaine but she only wants to be friends. It's cool with me. I think it can be a healthy thing to have a new female friend.

And who knows what the future holds. She may change her mind, however unlikely that may be, or she may have a single friend I may meet. Life is full of surprises...