Dear Tina: 2003-04-29
[Tina],
I just wanted to write and thank you for listening to my article and offering your feedback. I’m sorry if I appeared to argue my positions too forcefully. I did not mean to imply that your views had absolutely no truth to them. They just made me think about relationships in ways I hadn’t considered before. And that is a bit uncomfortable for me at times. But please keep challenging me. Perhaps, between the two of us, we can figure out ways to help each other to find the loves of our lives. 
I’m going to figure out how to incorporate your suggestion that I include some of the good things that [Melinda] did for me, to help the reader understand why I kept going back for more. That was a great suggestion, and I think I can incorporate it without lengthening the article too much.
You’re right. It wasn’t JUST my misplaced passion for [Melinda] that kept me hanging with her. She was certainly neglectful. But as a friend, she was a rather good one [at times].
Take care. We’ll talk again soon.
Â
Tom