Should I respond to an email from an old boyfriend/friend?

This is not about my relationship with my wife. I have already told her and asked for her opinion.

Right before I met my wife, I was in a 4 year relationship with a guy. This guy was also a friend from high school. When we broke up we had known each other for almost 10 years. After we broke up, we continued to talk and see each other on occassion. But, once he got a girlfriend, he stopped returning my calls and emails. I blamed his girlfriend (women can be so petty), but I also blamed him for not fighting for our friendship.

Out of the blue, I received an email from him saying he wanted to initiate a friendship. He is now married, with 2 kids, and I am not sure his wife knows he has contacted me.

I am no longer angry about him severing our friendship, but I fear it may happen again. This guy is one of 3 people who I consider to really know me. He was a close, wonderful friend years before we got together, and I miss that.

Anyway, my wife says she doesn’t know how I can forgive him for throwing away our friendship, but she doesn’t mind if I contact him.

What do you all think? What would you do in my situation?