You offer great advice. This is the direction I'm headed, but I'm worried that I'll drop into my old ways. It's amazing to me how I think I've got everything figured out and then suddenly I look at what I'm doing and it hits me - so THIS is what backsliding is!
She has ties to me in many ways. Attraction? Not so much right now. We haven't done anything together, other than dinners out (which have been extremely enjoyable and chatty), for a very long time. Everytime I offer, she says she has to work. But she clearly is extremely conflicted. I think me starting to turn down some stuff is really going to leave her with herself - I can't be the "back-burner" safety guy.
A challenge - interesting way to think of it. It is like a dance, but a puzzle might be a better way to think of it. Can you do stuff in the right combination to get to the next level? When one combo doesn't work, can you critically evaluate and try again? Interesting ...
I already see the tight rope walk between detaching and being available as a friend. I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but am thinking about how to handle it.
Thanks for the encouragement - it's been great to know that you, grasshopper, WCW, and Sara have been checking in. I'm starting to appreciate this community in a new way.
