Brian, a number of months ago I checked the code of ethical conduct for several professional associations, such as psychology, family therapy, etc., and all the ones I checked were not hardline about contact outside of therapy in small towns. They said it will happen and sometimes dual roles ensue, and it is just unavoidable in a small community. It seemed like they were being very reasonable and realistic.

Brian, I hope your chest pains go away. A year or two ago I went to the ER with chest pains. They were really bad and I was really scared--I thought I was having a heart attack. It turns out I was not, and I felt so dumb. Like I was a hypochondriac or something. I left with head down and tail between my legs. Two months later, I had abdomenal surgery and as part of the pre-surgery, they asked if I had any EKGs for their records, and I said, well yes, as a matter of fact I do, and I had my ER EKG sent over to them. Right after surgery, while in the recovery room, I went into atrial fibrillation, and my heart was really wonking out for about an hour. They told me later they were really glad to have the earlier EKG for comparison to the AF one. I was sent to a cardiologist several days later, and he said the same thing--so helpful in diagnosis to have the pre-incident EKG. So, even though the whole ER visit for chest pain seemed stupid when it turned out nothing was wrong with me, I later thought that the "reason" I went there was to have a "good" EKG to compare to the post-surgery one.

So random stuff happens that later turns out to be useful.

I am glad you brought this up because I have been wondering the same thing. For the last couple of months, John and Kate have been on the covers of all the tabloids and celebrity mags you see at the grocery store checkout. I have looked closely at their photos and cannot for the life of me recognize either of them. What is their claim to fame? I have wondered if they are like that guy in the Truman Show--fabricated personalities whose lives the masses follow in eager anticipation. Only, I seem to have missed the John and Kate Show.