Miss A, I was a very rebellious and risk taking teenager myself. I remember doing things like you did so I understand the fun you were having. I'm sure you were really enjoying yourself. Sometimes I look back at some of the things I did and wonder how I came out unhurt.

One time, and only once, I allowed a friend of mine to set me up with a blind date. He picked me up and took me out to a park in the wilderness. He didn't waste any time trying to get what he wanted. Somehow, and I don't know how, I was able to get him off me without it going too far. I kept yelling "No," hitting him and finally dug my fingernails into his ears to hurt him and pull him off. Guess that finally convinced him because of the pain and the blood. He got really angry with me but he drove me back to town. He could have easily ignored my refusal and raped me and left me out there, either dead or alive.

Come to find out, this so-called "friend" had told him that I was an easy mark. So you see? You have to be more careful about who you call "friend" and whom you trust. This boy could have "been taking care" of you for ulterior motives.

Just this year I had a man from my mobile home park come on to me by "taking care of me." Hubby and I had a fight and hubby left for a few days, which is usual for him. This man, who is a murder and a con man thought he saw his opportunity and was trying to convince me that he was going to marry me!! Excuse me!?!? I'm already married!

I really, really enjoyed how "he took care of me," the way he made me laugh and the way you could tell where he was in the park by his singing. But at the time, he was living with a woman across the street from me. He had shared intimacies about their relationship with me. Just that alone was enough for me to KNOW I didn't need to get involved with this man. I WANTED to, mind you! He reminded me of how my mom used to take care of the grandmother. I'm starved for that kind of "caring." But I knew it wasn't in my best interest in the long run. It wasn't an easy choice, but it was one I had to make in MY BEST INTEREST... for the long run.

It's a good thing to "live in the moment," but you still have to exercise some self-discipline so you can make wise choices for yourself.

Please take better care of yourself. Use this experience to learn from and consider yourself lucky that nothing happened.