"Do you want to go lingerie shopping with us?"

Two of my classmates had just extended the invitation after classes on Friday.  I presumed that their foray was somehow related to my recent engagement to Phil, so it didn't immediately occur to me that they had their own need for this particular shopping trip.

It was already past my bedtime as I sat across a dimly lit restaurant table from Phil and two of his co-workers.  They had come from work several hours ago and I, from school only a few minutes ago. Not unexpectedly, conversation eventually turned to medical school and my future life as a doctor.  What specialty was I going to choose?

In life, there are some lessons that are simply learned the hard way.  Appropriate break up etiquette is usually one of them. 

When I met my boyfriend, Phil, I was a full-time graduate student and had two part time jobs.  Life was busy for both of us, and often, we spent time together solely on Friday nights and Sabbaths.  As our relationship progressed, and my studies did too, travels, interviews, and studying often forced us to negotiate our time together.  Regardless of what was happening, though, we retained

Planning compromises a huge part of relationships. 

"What is the one thing that you would say that Phil does for you only because he loves you?" 

My parents never had the sex talk with me. 

My boyfriend, Phil, was recounting my housing dilemma with his co-worker last week when the perfect solution was offered. 

"So, why don't you just take the plunge?" 

Last Tuesday, propped up against the fluffy down pillows in my San Francisco hotel room, I watched in awe, with millions of others, as President Barack Obama was inaugurated.  

On a hot July afternoon, two months after I graduated from college, I sent my boss and long time friend an email with the subject line, “Just in case.”