Is my longest relationship, gulp, over?

K and I have been married for four plus years and known each other for about six (any day now actually!). Otherwise, I had a checking account with Chevy Chase Bank for six, maybe seven years, before horrible Capital One bought them out and turned what was quite possible the best bank and even business I have ever put my money and faith in into your typical fascist, just a number customer service queue. Although, I still get great one on one service INSIDE a former Chevy Chase Bank, that's obviously not possible from Senegal and I have to rely on the outsourced phone bank for Capital One's at the Island of Misfit Toys. I think the Vikings in their commercials would be more responsive to my needs. Moving every 2-4 years also made it difficult to foster any long term relationships.

But this morning, like many of you, I received what might be the ultimatum letter in my email. It seems my relationship with Netflix is in the dumps and we are at a make it or break it stage. This is sad for many reasons. As I mentioned, I've been a member since 2004. Sure, not the first, but hardly the last person to join. I've probably personally encouraged about 50 people to join.

Even in the early days, it wasn't easy. I had the big, dreaded Blockbuster down the street, almost walking distance away, and the awesome, now recently closed, Video Vault in Old Town Alexandria that still has thousands of movies locked in someone's basement that Netflix will never carry. But slowly, like all successful relationships, I slowly cut those distractions out to focus on the wonderful opportunity sitting in front of me.

Then when I had to move to Germany, I found a way for you to come! In fact, you've traveled to me with way more countries than even K has and may ever. I always did wonder if my Netflix discs had them than most, part of an exclusive Netflix frequent flier club.

But the move to overseas was nothing compared to having to merge my queue with K's. Yet, we managed just fine. I do miss the way you used to let me share my reviews and ratings with friends, but in the end, you are about providing movies, not making friends or reviews.

And then I was there with you for your first big day, the day you started streaming. I got my Wii disc even so I could use that, and you know what, it was everything you promised me it would be and more.

So, with all of that worked out between us, we went to Africa together. I expected our relationship to suffer, at least have some adjustments. Sure, now it takes two weeks ONE-WAY for me to get or send back a movie, but we are making the most of the distance. One new part of our relationship that I pretty much had written off was your new streaming service. I always supported it, but in the states with three day turnaround time on dvds and other easy streaming options, it never seemed like your future. But here in Africa without a movie theater, we capitalized on your new abilities via our VPN service and stream stuff periodically directly to my tv which has your interface built in! Even little SA has learned to love what you provide.

But then today, you tell me that it's just not working for you the way you thought it would. You tell me your new plans. Your take it or leave attitude. Essentially, you get to go on and do whatever you want with your streaming business, but if I still want to do the old things together, I have to jump through these hoops to fit into YOUR new life?!?! I'm just not sure if it is worth all the trouble. I mean, you may have become the biggest fish in the sea to me with your selections, but now that you are tossing that aside, the competitors now can easily compete! Why should I have to do all the work for us to continue?

Tune in next week to see if Steve and Netflix call it quits or live happily ever after.