Somebody call Hallmark and give them the heads-up...it might be a quiet Valentine's Day

Never mind the avian flu sweeping the country. There is an altogether different epidemic currently underway and it's a doozy.

and it's called heartbreak.

It seems to me that nearly every woman I know is currently dealing with it. And the only thing I have to ask is why? Sure, it's a new year and spring is just around the corner and the hills are going to be alive once again with the sound of...wait a moment.

Stop right there...what the hell just happened?

I'm talking about a rather serious issue and the first thing that pops into my head is Julie Andrews running around a meadow, singing her brains out?? Uh oh...I think I had better lay down. Maybe Natalie was right after all...I guess I must have drank 14 beers.

Anyway, the Beckys and the Melissas and the Julies and the Lisas and the Jolies and the Heathers and the Danas and the Jennifers and the Bettys and the Veronicas of the world are currently lugging around some heavy hearts that were quite lithe and beauteous not so long ago. Now is it just a coincidence that this is taking place at the advent of the year of whichever Lord/idol/Oprah/etc. you acknowledge, two thousand and six?

And if so, isn't it a little early? I mean, there is still snow on the ground and more will drop before we can all go out and join Julie in the hills for a singalong. The thing I can't wrap my noodle around is how everyone is dealing with the exact same thing in completely different ways at the exact same time. Sure, everyone is different but really now, how different can things be when the same affliction afflicts all of these wonderful women that don't know each other at the same time? They sure as hell didn't catch it from me. So, all of a sudden this emotional phenomenon occurs just like that? No warning? No indicators of what was about to happen? I don't think so. The one consistent thing I've noticed was how no one was caught by surprise. They all knew that it was going to happen.

so , now my question again is why?

Why did they let it? Hmmm? Well? Was it really a gamble? Was it a risk they all took? Was it a "I thought this time would be different"? Was it a...STOP!

no...it wasn't. Risks and gambles can only occur when you don't know. YOU DON'T KNOW...and they all did. Yes, you did...you all knew and you let it happen anyway. You knew it wasn't different. Why? Because it never is. It will always be the same until you make it different. And how do you accomplish that?

Don't.

it's that simple...just don't.

"Well, I think that maybe..." Don't. "I trusted him and he..." Don't. "Everytime I like someone, they always..." DON'T.

just stop it all...right now.

stop thinking and start feeling and PAY ATTENTION to what you feel. Don't suppress or ignore or dismiss or wave away or laugh off...DON'T.

Once you do, you'll notice your symptoms will clear up immediately.

so, there you go...take two and call me in the morning.