Hi Junk . . . I'm new to the board but wanted to step in and introduce myself. I see/feel a little bit of "me" in "you".

6 years ago I went to JA and met a young man (come on now, not "that" young). We spent an incredible evening together and the following 2 days kept missing each other on the island. I left without seeing him to say "goodbye." We communicated via phone for 6 months after my vacation, and when he asked me to return to JA to meet his family, I bought a ticket! 3 weeks before my trip, I "got cold feet" and abruptly ended the communication.

I've lived with that regret for 5 1/2 years. There hasn't been a single day that's gone by that I haven't thought about, and missed, the man I met -- and wondered what "could" have been had I went out there on that limb (isn't that where all the good fruit is?).

Two months ago, I returned to JA. It had been over 5 years since I'd had communication with the man I'd met. Truly, I didn't go back to look for him. We had 5+ years of distance and space separating us. I figured he wouldn't even remember me if I did find him . . .

Well, I wasn't on the island but 15 hours when my heart began tugging at me. I started asking around about him . . . and after 2 days and 3 people (one person called another person and then that person knew his best friend), I located him -- several towns away. I left him a message on his phone, and he called me back the next day! He drove 2 1/2 hours to see me, and we spent 2 glorious days together!!!! I'm flying back in 17 days . . . to meet his family.

Don't live with regrets, Junk.

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