My beautiful, talented sister has broken up with her wonderful, sweet fiance and my heart is broken, but they seem to be fine. Why is that? Have you lot ever had this sort of selfish stake in other people's relationships?

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000

Answers

Are you single? When couples that I think have great relationships break up, it bums me out, because I was hoping to have what they had someday. And now they don't have it , and it makes me feel like I can't aspire to it, either.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000

I'm married (not even a year yet), but it still bums me out that my sister may possibly be sad (and her fiance) they really love each other. What a pisser.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000

That just means you're not as self absorbed as, say, I am. And you feel their pain.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000

When my best friend got her heart broken by her first love (someone I was very good friends with), it pissed me off and made me very sad. I cried, mostly because it was very difficult to see someone I love in so much pain.

-- Anonymous, November 13, 2000

It's the day after I posted the question; She now has a 4 month old German Shepherd called Brynner (yes, after that bald hunky Russian) and smiles a lot. All is well.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2000