Email: In retrospect [EH]

I first heard the shell [beachcombing] metaphor at a Catholic prayer meeting 30 years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. Every woman who does not marry the first man she meets (never a good idea anyway) gets set down again [and men get set down by women too]! Most people will get set down many dozens of times before they are selected, for a date or anything, much less marriage. So you would rather never be considered for love, much less never have loved, than to have loved and lost even once? Bottom line: It is best to draw life lessons reflectively not emotionally, and always positively rather than negatively -- in response rather than in reaction.