DEAR ABBY: I am writing this to relieve a heavy burden I have carried for many years. I'm 16 and have had a crush on this girl since I was 9. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her, and have never gotten over it.
I have always had a problem expressing my feelings. I have been very shy from the day I was born. Now that I'm older, I have more confidence and have lost most of my shyness. What should I do after years of barely talking to her? -- NOT SO SHY ANYMORE
DEAR NOT SO SHY ANYMORE: Now that you have more confidence, start talking to her. You don't have to declare your love in the first conversation, but her reaction will tell you if she wants to have some sort of relationship with you, even if it's only friendship -- and that's an auspicious beginning.