Usually I'm not one to share personal details on my blog. You people don't really know about my siblings, or my job, or how I spend my Friday nights. But lately things have been changing. Lately I've been liking someone, and it's been forcing me to think outside my usual box. See, she and I are a bit different.

"She invited me to this annual event her and her friends do," I tell Byron today over lunch. "They tube down a river and drink beer and...and..."

Byron gives me a confused look. "And you plan on doing this too?" he asks. I shrug. He says, "I mean, you don't really do those things." I nod in agreement. "But what do I do?" I ask. "I'm just worried, like, what if I don't drink beer and she doesn't like me and-" Byron stops me. "If she doesn't like you for not drinking beer then you shouldn't be with her." I roll my eyes. "Well duh. And I know I'm being stupid and she would never do that, but-"

Byron stops me again. "When I was with Dave we used to go camping. Camping. Me. With the outdoors, and the smelly, and the no shower. Me. Byron. Camping." I nod. "And you know why I went?" he asks. I shake my head. "Because he loved it, and he was always happy when we were doing it. And I loved being around him when he was that happy."

He continues: "Michele called me the other night to complain about something Dan was doing, and I told her the same thing. This isn't college, where we can be cavalier with relationships, or where you go on a date with someone and they have a weird laugh or something so you don't go out with them again. This is a woman you really like. And you shouldn't freak out over stupid stuff, or be afraid of trying. If she wants to float down the river, then you float down the river with her. And if you don't want to drink beer, well, bring a huge thermos of gin and tonic. But don't be dumb and not even try."

He pauses. "We're kinda getting to be adults now, Josh. And we can't just freak out and be bratty about things like this. We have to try new things. And if you like someone then you should sacrifice for them."

Byron nods and stares at me for a second and then goes back to the slice of pizza sitting in front of him, and thus endeth the relationship pep talk of '08.

So I guess I'm saying that you may be seeing pictures of me floating down a river. Don't be alarmed. I'm just trying something new.