Thank you so much for your kind reply. One of my very best friends is a man who is almost 20 years younger than I...I've always had male friends and cherish them dearly. You're right about sex.....a lot of people seem to use their sexual appetite as their only method of knowing women. women do it too with men. I'm so glad that I didn't actually SEE him...just phone and e.mails.....well, i "saw" him, but didn't go out and found out all the "news" while he was gone on the business trip........thanks again for your response. pat p.s. i know what the wonderful ADs can do to us!!!