As much as I like to engage the imagination from time to time, I do acknowledge both Peter T. and Kat's reality checks. The fact of the matter is that "all this freedom" has really made things tough for young people. As I see it, our culture has always placed too much weight on s*x while forgetting it's symbiotic relationship to "true heart romance". There is a disconnect now that makes things tougher than they were when we were young. The expectations are different, as are the payoffs.

But I still believe in even "third rate romance". And as I sit here right now, with the doe-eyed romantic gently tucked away somewhere in the back of my mind, the cynic takes the floor and poses his questions: Haven't we had enough? Can't we get past this? Won't we ever get this out of our system? And I say "no, sir. Not in this life."