Excerpted Memories "I don't think you should pursue a friendship with her with marriage in mind. Be her friend? Yes, definitely. But be desperately searching for the qualities of a wife in her? NO.. Let me tell you why.... Up until a year ago, I thought I knew what I was looking for in my boyfriend/husband. But I didn't have a clue what it was really about. I really did care about -----------.. I loved him, too... I loved him so much it hurt... I thought--------- loved me, too... and I think------ really did... but we were young... we weren't finished growing into the people we are now. As far as maturity went, we were on different wavelengths. And love, really TRUE love, was always something I was desperately searching to find in --------. Be glad for the friendships you'll make on your journey... Learn to open your heart through friendship, so you'll know your future wife when you meet her. Give it time, stop searching so hard, be glad for the memories of friendship you can make now, and know that when you stop searching you'll find her... I promise you will... Keep your eyes open for opportunities of friendship, not marriage. You listen to your heart, not to society... Please don't settle in love... don't get married until you know in your heart it's right. From a friend's point-of-view: you seem very mature for your age. A seventeen year-old maybe a very nice friend but may never be your intellectual equal. You told me about the man who decided he wanted to marry a widow... you mentioned wanting to marry a girl from a lower caste... you said you had thought about it for a while.... ---------, you have a good heart.. dreams are not wild ideas.. you long for these things because that is what your heart is capable of if you can only get your mind to believe in your soul as much as your heart does... you think of these things for a reason... do you think most Nepali men would marry to help a young woman rather than themselves? I'm willing to bet they don't.. Most men wouldn't marry a woman they thought was "below" them in anyway. --------, you are incredibly selfless and kind-hearted.. It might feel kind of odd to follow your heart instead of your mind.. and it's not easy to do.. but I promise you that if you try you will be happy.. you'll learn to see the Good in everything... "