Soaring Solo 2010

[Gardener]

Well....

That went quick and quite well but, in the greater context of the last 18 years, rather unfortunate.
But, hey...Consequences. Consequences.

I arrived to find her sitting at a table twittering and texting away. She looked up:

X: Hi, Gardener!
G: Hi, what's up?
X: Nothing, really.
G: (sitting down) I'm not sure I understand.
X: Well, since you had said once in the Mediator's office that you wanted to still be friends, I thought it would be nice to...start.
G: (Pause) I think you misunderstood. You had used the word "civil" and I said I hated that word but I would always act friendly and polite. ACT friendly.
X: Surprised. Silence.
G: X, you ended our friendship. The way I view it, if any friend - (citing three of mine:) friend 1, friend 2, or friend 3 - any friend demonstrated to me - proved to me - that their word, their promise, their commitment, let alone vow, was meaningless, worthless, I would consider that friend to have ended our friendship at that point. You ended our friendship many times in many ways throughout this. You've made it clear that you are no longer my friend and I don't want to be yours.
X: Well, um, I guess I certainly misunderstood that.(coversation @ mediator's)
G: I'll act friendly and polite if we find ourselves at a family function or something. Friendly and respectful.
X:(some kind of mumbled comment which felt like a "how big of you" sarcasm.) I ignored it, smiling.
G: X, friends don't do the things you've done.
X: Alright. I'm going to leave! I didn't come here to get beaten up.
G: I'm not beating you up, just answering your question. I'm done.

Chatted friendly and politely about taxes:
G:I'll have my stuff ready Sunday and will bring it to you.
X: No, I'll come to the house and get them (this is the third time she's shot down me coming to her new apartment) But I let it go.
G: No, I don't want you to come to the house. We'll meet here.
X: Well, okay, then
G: -Getting up- Alright, then. Goodbye.

As I went out the main door to the parking lot, she was a few steps behind. I held the door for her and said, "Goodbye, X."

X: No reply.

I'm just glad I got a chance to say a couple of things I've been really wanting to say. But no opportunity ever arose and I would not "force fit" them into any old conversation. I had hoped for months the right opportunity would present itself (especially since I had had them damn near memorized). Tonight it did.

Done.
And when the house is finally sold?
DONE!