Delayed Gratification

That is my mantra these days.

There is so much I want and so much I want to do and I want it all NOW.  I have to keep reminding myself that slow and steady wins the race.  Whether it's a slice of cake or the new Gucci bag, I have to keep chanting "delayed gratification" to myself.  Most times it works; sometimes it doesn't (as I eat the last piece of flan in the fridge ...).

Pen Pal

Over the past year, I have developed a relationship with a former co-worker that is quite unique and extremely gratifying.  We are pen pals.  We don't send each other formal letters; instead we send e-mails throughout the day, that we retrieve on our respective cell phones.  The e-mails are more personal than texts or twitter updates, but less stuffy than letters.  It works for us.

For the life of me, I cannot remember how it started.  But now I look forward to the incessant digital chatter throughout the day.  We talk about everything: politics, life, children (he has one on the way), books, work, growing up, marriage, food.  All in little snippets.  He will send me a note that says "your thoughts on Arianna Huffington."  Response:  "Love the Huffington Post; don't know much about the woman."  Reply:  "She was once a conservative and married to a Republican.  He decided he was gay and they got divorced."  Then on to the next topic.

The funny thing is that although he works down the road from me, we rarely see each other.  We don't "speak" well to each other; our relationship is best in digital form.

Early on, when I realized how much I enjoyed and looked forward to his communications, I searched my mind for ulterior motives -- on his part or mine -- and, thankfully, found none.  It is not an affair -- of the heart, mind or otherwise -- it is a friendship, plain and simple, albeit of the digital kind.