Things You Only Do Once

As experience makes all kinds of marks on your karmic bedpost, everyone has a short list of things they have done that they would never do again. Most folks refer to it as "a learning experience", which all of middle and high school can be chalked up to, but there are those key points that do stand out. The ones that you can still recall make you want to bury yourself in a hill in Idaho, not sure whether you want to be dug out or not later.

I had lunch with a friend yesterday, and the one that got brought up was 'sending the post-break-up letter'. Depending on what era you are from and when it first happened to you, the process is the same. You break up with someone (in my case it had been a boyfriend for 2.5 years), and that whole rest of the day and night you are upset about it. Remember the time we went camping, remember all the silly little nicknames, remember the (blah blah blah) and you're dying inside so you write a majestical letter weaving the tapestry of said relationship in all its splendor.

Then you go and do something dumb-ass. With puffy eyes you address stamp and mail the letter, (or hit SEND now), then crawl into bed.

The next morning you wake up, the sun greets the brand new day, you are filled with hope for starting over (yet again). Then you remember the letter. The simpering, whining, it's not you it's me... whatever you wrote you know that when they read it there is a strong possibility it sounds like you didn't want to break up with them at all (or they see the crack in the armor and OMG there is still a chance) and you're going to have to go back now and REITERATE everything again.

Writing the letter is imperative, NOT sending it important. (see my earlier posting The Draft).

What is something YOU can contribute that You Only Do Once? (no darwin awards please) Please Comment.