Plum Crazy

I love you all dearly, but there is one thing you must stop. Now. I regret ever mentioning to you that A and I are going to Paris next week. There are things that people do in Paris other than elope or get engaged.

I was very excited about going to Paris with him, but you are all doing your unintentional level best to ruin it for me. Because when I discuss it with you, and the "elopement" or "engagement" question gets, inevitably, raised, I feel like I'm disappointing you when I tell you that we are not eloping, nor will we getting engaged. I feel like somehow I'm failing at what I am constantly reminded must be my central mission in life as a woman - to get married.

I have accomplished quite a bit in my life. I have a bachelor's degree and an MBA. Both with distinction. I spent a month in France in high school, and a trimester at Cambridge in college. I have a very successful career. I'm always there for all of you when you really need me.

I do have a wonderful boyfriend, whom I love very much and who loves me. Maybe we will get married some day. Maybe we won't. I don't know. I hope we will, but I don't know. But if we do, I will be doing it for me. So leave us to work it out on our schedule. If it becomes a problem for me, I will let you know. It is not a problem for me right now. So stop making it one.

Lesley