For what it's worth...

An open letter to Mister Wonderful's ex:
How was I to know your daughter would inadvertantly send me a copy of what was probably the last photo taken of you and M.W.? It's not that it shocked me, just that it was unexpected, it took my breat away. I felt that way the first time I saw a picture of you two, back in March this year. There are some things I need to get off my chest, and you are the only appropriate person to say them to.

While I failed to mention in March how pretty I thought you were [when you were younger], I thought it. Even in the latest photo, I thought you looked amazing. You and my M.W. looked like an engaging couple; you fit well. Like peas and carrots. And if I did not know the truth about your marriage when that photo was taken, then I would have never in a million years, believed that you guys' divorce was almost final.

But the truth, Ms. Wrong, is that while your winning smile was out fooling the world, your husband and family would have benefitted from you being there and being real instead of faking it and being cold. In the nearly two years since I first met M.W. in the professional realm, then after you kicked him out of the house and I got to know him on a more personal note... he really tried to make things work out with you. Instead of getting the fact that you had a hand in your life being fucked-up, you refused to admit the truth, and constantly punishing him for it.

For our many sins, we pay the price...
Part of what bugs me about you, is that I have not yet had an opportunity to size you up, stare you down, and make you feel completely inferior as a human being. Many people ask what is the reasoning behind that... basically it is animal instinct. The "j" word almost popped out, but it is not that -- You and M.W. have things together that one can only have after decades of marriage: kids in their mid-late 20's. I will not have that in the here and now, so to level the playing field, all I can do is love M.W. the best I know how, and maybe in that black, stony, coal-lump-of-a-heart, you'll see that you were doing it all wrong... all selfish... and that he would have loved you still, if you had ever tried.

So you're asking what is the price of my envy? Just that you could easily play the "other woman" card on me, and say I took him from you. What you do not, and will not know, is that I have always, catagorically refused to play the "other woman". This case is not that case. And yet I still have this lingering guilt because I would never chat with you on the phone when M.W. and I were business acquaintences and not soul mates. You intimidate the hell out of me and no matter how great I can fake the self-confidence, I will know that deep down, there must be something redeeming inside of you, or else M.W. would never have given you the time of day.

Not to diminish M.W.
You crapped on a wonderful husband, and a wonderful life, Ms. Wrong. Pardon me while I gather the pieces and build my future.

And by the way, M.W.... I forgot how much I *loved* the goatee. Tres chic!