Today we continue the story of Sarah's romantic adventures. She blew right through Kyle, Seth and Troy and is now on to Ben.

"Over the next seven months he went through a lot in his work life. He didn't make the promotion list and decided to leave the Army, the only job he's held since college. He spent a lot of time alone by choice, including every holiday.

"Something bad happened to him during the holidays when he was younger, and he hates them now. That bothered me, but I'm a patient person. I still gave him Christmas presents, including a shirt I made him, and he was genuinely appreciative. I know his dad passed away a few years ago and that he was his hero, but other than that he's not very forthcoming with information. I know he was married briefly, but his wife cheated on him after he was deployed. He has no children and no desire to have any.

"He recently got out of the Army, which was crushing to him, and took the first job he was offered. He moved out of state last week, over 1,300 miles away. He says he'll do anything to come back here. He hates this state, so I can only assume he wants to come back to me. He's never really come out and said that, but he has said I'm the only good thing in his life.

"I don't feel the 15-year age difference, and he says the same thing. My mother rolls her eyes and thinks I need to find someone my own age, but do I really? If we're so compatible, does the age difference really matter? We share a sense of humor, similar political views and lifestyle. I have no intention of having more kids, but he complains that women his age are stuck on the idea and try to change his mind.

"He freely admits his emotional intelligence isn't very high, although I beg to differ considering his life was all in order when we first met. Since leaving the Army, which he always thought would be his lifelong career, his anxiety level went way up. Even so, he has never failed to make me feel completely cherished. However, he has never once said he loves me. I'm used to guys proclaiming their love for me early in a relationship, so it's actually refreshing. I don't need to hear it because he shows it.

"I don't know if this long-distance thing will work out, but I know I can do it, and he knows what it's like to be cheated on, so I can't imagine him doing that to me. He could easily have ended our relationship when he left.

"Does age have to factor in? For what it's worth I don't look like a middle-aged woman. Nobody has ever referred to me as a cougar, and I don't feel like one. We don't look as far apart in age as we are. He looks older than 33, and I look a lot younger than 48. I don't plan to ditch him just because my mother thinks he's too young for me. Not that I need my mother's approval. But we all want our families to accept the people we choose. He's a much better person than my ex-husband is, so you'd think she could just be happy for me."

What advice do you have for Sarah?

Got a problem? Send it, along with your questions and rants to [email protected]. And check out my e-book, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."