I'm making progress. Today I had an SMS conversation with that girl, and I thought that, if I could talk to the VIPPERS that helped me with my shyness earlier, I'd be given the courage and might to end the SMS with a :*. Knowing that I can't be dependant on them all my life, I gathered my anti-shyness and I :*'d her. And she :*'d me back. I'm so happy, I can tell the world that VIPPERS helped me improve my life and I mean it.