Positive developments? #2

[jon2911]

Called at 11:15 and woke W up to wish her a Merry Christmas. She sounded really sweet, and I let her go back to sleep. She called back at 1:00 AM and left me a nice voicemail.

I remember a wise friend in college told me "you'll be able to tell when things are going good, when you call and wake her up and instead of getting mad she's nice." So true, in every dating relationship I've had, and it was a thrill last night.

Tonight W called at 9:00, she's at her grandparents and was having trouble going to sleep. She said she'll be there until Tuesday or Wednesday taking care of them while her aunt and her husband go to the Independence Bowl in Louisiana. She said she can't handle more than a couple days with them, so this will be hard.

Interestingly, W's aunt never left Port Arthur (an hour east of Houston), and only recently got married in her 40's. I like her and her husband a lot, and admire how much she's taken care of her parents, but I could never do that. Now, W is helping fill that role with both her Dad, and her maternal grandparents. Is this really what she wants? A child role, like River said?

She started crying, told me it's cold and the bed's hard, and she's not feeling well. I talked her to sleep.

I have to be careful here, because there will be pullback. This could be just a temporary loneliness she's feeling at the holidays, not a reconsidering. But it feels so good, and helps me remember why I'm still trying so hard. At least for a little while, the Alien is gone.