Jury of His Peers

As I deal with the latest round of boy frustrations, I am learning to be grateful for one thing: my jury of 20-and 30-something men who I am coming to rely on for advice, wisdom and the occasional reality check. Of course I adore my girls, that goes without saying. My girls can always be counted on for pithy comments and insights ranging from validating quips like "boys suck" to actual, practical advice. But there is something to be said for my menagerie of male friends. The concept of "just friends" can be a complicated one to wrap one's mind around, especially when the people you are attempting to be so with you may have had certain romantic feelings for, or entanglements with in the past. But sometimes it can work out, and when it does, their support can be invaluable.

Of course it's ironic to receive insights from such characters when in the past you have had first-hand experience with their imperfect boy-ness. But at least you can be sure they know of what they speak, oui? And when it comes to overanalyzing perplexing male behavior, isn't it only fair that such behavior be examined by a jury of the offender's peers? After all, they're the true experts. It's also kinda cool to know although the doors to one form of intimacy may close, opportunities for another kind abound if you nurture them correctly.

So to any single women attempting to navigate the treacherous paths of dating in the present day, I say to you this: amass for yourself a collection of platonic male friends. You will not regret it.