Life Sherpa: What a beautiful day, but I'm glad you decided to spend some of it chatting with the Life Sherpa. With the Cardinals struggling and the Blues eliminated, this may be the most fun you have all day.
I sure hope so.
We'll throw out the first question in just a moment.

celloshane: Hey Sherp, where is the best place in town to pop the big Q? I want to make sure it's a real suprise.

Life Sherpa: Well, my friend, that is a big, big moment. I can't speak too much about the surprise factor -- because that depends on how far along your relationship is. If it's been going on for some time and getting more serious, she may be expecting any and every day.
What i can do is suggest some incredibly romantic spots.
1. The Forest Park Lagoon, at night: I think this is the most beautiful spot in the entire city when it is lit up and the fountains are running in the lagoon below the art museum, with the statue of St. Louis looming at the top of Art Hill. Sometimes, I drive through the park in the evening just to look at it. For some reason, I think it carries the spirit of the 1904 World's Fair. This would be my romantic pick.
2. If you really want to surprise her, ask her while you both are on the Screaming Eagle at Six Flags. My guess is it will be about the last thing on her mind while her stomach is flying on a downhill plunge. One suggestion: don't bring the ring out until after the ride is over.
3. The steps in front of Arch ain't to shabby for neat settings as well.
Gee, hope this all it helps.

Gracey: Hello, my question is about guilt. I left my husband about a year ago...i still carry the guilt of hurting him. I know in my heart, i could not be the wife he so deserves for various reasons, however it kills me to see him suffer so much. We have a 3 year old daughter together that we love and continue to raise together as a team. She is our number one priority and as far as we know, because of our friendship, hasn't suffered too much emotionally. Why is it that i continue to feel torn and upset over this?

Life Sherpa: Because you are a normal, caring human being. Why wouldn't you feel bad about leaving? I think that in modern society, we confuse rational thought -- leaving because it's a bad relatonship, incompatibility, whatever the concrete reason may be -- with emotions and feelings.
Just because leaving him was the "correct" thing to do doesn't mean that it wasn't a painful thing to do.
The fact that you share a child and, therefore, must relate to each other REGULARLY in such a committed manner makes it all that more difficult. Had there been no child, and you each could have gone your separate ways, I'm sure the feelings of guilt would have subsided more quickly.
So there is little mystery as to the WHY you feel guilty; that's normal. I think you are more concerned withe the HOW LONG. And that is not a question anyone can answer, not even the Life Sherpa.
I hate to fall back on a trite adage, but I'm afraid the only answer to the "how long" is: Only Time Will Tell.
hang in there, and keep doing right by your little girl.

Gracey: To celloshane: I was popped the big Q on the steps, in front of the arch. Very romantic and beautiful.

Life Sherpa: There you go, buddy. It was second on my list.

Life Sherpa: Well, Celloshane. I hope all goes well on the Big Q. thing. Remember, regardless of where you ask her, it will become a romantic situation when you look back on it years fron now.
And Gracey, hang in there. I know that pain lessons as time passes. Too bad that time seems to pass too slowly some times.

And that's going to do it for this edition of the Life Sherpa chat. We'll be back, same Sherpa time, same Sherpa channel, on June 2.