Jim and Me - height is the only difference

MY LIFE
Predictably, my empathy and understanding of Jim has grown over the past week of my life. At first I kind of wondered why Jim put so much distance between himself and Pam. Not only did he transfer to another branch, but he didn't contact her after she rejected him on Casino Night. I am beginning to understand exactly why. I had a night similar to Jim's on Halloween night of 2006. I told my "friend" of 4 years how I really felt, and she told me she "valued our friendship" too much. Well, after that I tried to distance myself from her for a little while. Following three weeks of getting used to a new viewpoint, she left me a wonderful message on my answering machine. It was funny and friendly, and she asked me if I wanted to come watch the Office with her that Thursday (the office has really made my life into some bizzare irony-fest, it's kind of freaky). We hung out and it was fun, but there was one problem. I fell for her again. Never mind my heartbreak, never mind her unequivocal rejection of my feelings, never mind the fact that her plea to hang out was probably out of pity. I realized the danger of our meeting and left her alone for a while longer. Next, she asked me to come to her house for Thanksgiving - with her family. Ignoring the awkward moments, it was really fun, and I realized that I wasn't really over her at all. Well, things have continued similarly up until this last week, and then it all blew up. The long and short of an hours-long conversation was that she had "forgotten" to tell me that she had been going out with a couple different guys for the past several months. I felt like a fool for thinking that there was ever a chance. Now I'm back to "ignore" mode, except with a more damaged heart this time. Jim is right to hold back. As much as I want him to get back together with Pam, he can't allow himself to fall into her "trap" again. Pam will need to be more agressive to get Jim back, and I hope she does. My Pam, Jane, will need to do the same, but I know that won't happen. Sigh, oh well. I can still root for Jim.

THE OFFICE
As I become more like Jim, I hope desperately that he branches off the path my love life has taken. Jim's groundbreaking, astonishing, almost whispered "yes" in The Return fills all office fans with several questions. Will Karen give up on Jim, or fight harder for him? Will Pam make the first move, or will it again be up to Jim? Will Jim and Pam get together by the end of the season? One question my friends and I have pondered is somewhat disturbing. Can the Office survive without the dramatic tension between Jim and Pam? As much as I want to see those two pranksters get together, I want the Office as a whole more. While I do feel that the Jim/Pam tension drove the show through its first two seasons, I think the Office has grown. Dwight and Angela now actually tugs my heartstrings a little bit, and the over-the-top Michael has undergone changes as well. I think the writers have purposefully used this season to set up a more serious Office where Jim and Pam can get together, without abandoning all drama. I don't think that Jim and Pam will be "happily ever after" from now on, but I think they will be a true couple by the end of the season. On the other hand, I might just be overly optimistic...