On Sunday night, I was at home elated that in less then a week's time, Mary would be with me here in New York, and our life together would officially begin. On Monday night, I was at home devastated that less then an hour ago - I read an e-mail from her telling me that not only was she not coming - but that her feelings for me were not what I thought they were.

As I sit here typing this on Friday afternoon - the day before she was scheduled to arrive - I am totally fine with the fact that she is not coming and completely over any heartbreak or sorrow I felt in the last few days. And while there is a few reasons for my very speedy recovery - the biggest reason is the incalculable support I have received from my friends both here at home and across the United States.

As soon as I made the first phone call to Deborah on Monday night after I read Mary's e-mail and she began to tell everyone what happened, my phone did not stop ringing and my e-mail box was flooded with words of support from concerned friends who wanted to be there to help me through my heartbreak. In the last five days, I have gotten support and encouragement from at least fifty people who have said the most amazing things to me. Whether through a phone call, an e-mail, or a post on my message board, friends from all over that I speak to on a regular basis - and some I have never spoken to at all - literally came out of the woodwork to offer their support, give me words of encouragement - and offer me their shoulder to cry on.

As I read each e-mail and heard each message, I could not believe the things these people were saying to me. Each message had the same basic theme of "you'll get over this", "its her loss" and "there are other fish in the sea". But in addition, the e-mails contained words such as, "You are by far one of the nicest guys I've EVER met in my entire life", "Don't worry, Dude. You Rule! You are a great guy and a great catch", "remember how many people across the U.S. and the world are thinking about you and who will be there to support you through anything" - and, "I believe that friends should be there no matter what time, so I am more than willing to wake up to talk to mine". Reading words like that shows me not only just how many people care for me and my feelings - but how this experience - while a painful and unnecessary one - will absolutely not curb my enthusiasm or dampen my spirits for this amazing life I lead - or for the incredible people in it.

To everyone that has helped me get over this so quickly - thank you for "hugging" me with your words despite the distance between us. Thank you for taking time out of your lives to be there for mine - and thank you for making me see this experience for what it really was.

No one likes to go through a painful experience, but with all of these friends behind me - I think I can handle anything.