Hello, again.

Re-opening the closed door to a sorely tried friendship demands a lot of soul-searching, forgiveness and patience. And sometimes, having "bloody thick skin" helps too, especially when dealing with past embarrassements. Of course, don't forget the poop scoop while you're at it.

Forgive and forget, some say. But I don't believe in forgetting. It would certainly be easy enough to sweep unpleasant memories into a dark corner, pretend they aren't there, and hope that in time, you and everyone else might even forget that they even happened. But skeletons have a way of slipping a bony foot out of the closet, when you least expect it.

It is harder to forgive when the unhappy circumstances remain fresh in your mind; but if you can take a step back and reflect on the situation and your reactions, then I believe, forgiveness given in this context, will be of a sturdier stock, and will be more able to withstand future trials.

So, have you ever truly forgiven someone? Or simply, and conveniently, chosen to just "forget"?