Originally Posted By: CD Bear
And I need to CONTINUALLY be aware of my old patterns and NEVER let myself slide into dysfunction or taking her for granted.


Speaking of old patterns, I dodged a bullet tonight and really had to stop and think before I responded...

When I came home from work, I had found that my old dog had pissed all over her kennel. After I fed her, I noticed that she kept running around the house and in-n-out of the back door. So went to watch her for a bit and all she was doing was running back and forth pissing like every 5 mins. Well my vet is closed and I decided to get her to pet emergency.

I DID NOT want to have to call the W, but I felt obligated. Had to leave a message that I was taking dog over to the doctor. No biggie, but she didn't respond for awhile and I refused to text. She finally called and asked what I wanted (friendly) so I asked if she checked her message and she said "No, what's up?", so I told her what was happening and she was like "Okay, well let me what happens". I thought sure as [censored] she would come to the vet, so she shocked me. I blurted out before I could stop myself, "Where are you?". (Not good, old habit) She said "I'm on the way to the fair." I knew right then she was going to the Shinedown concert (We both like them).

Several feelings popped up in this 10 second span that I just knew immediately had to be silenced.
1) is I thought for awhile of asking her to go to this concert, but didn't because of it being pursuing
2) Why is she out having a good time when I'm taking care of our dog.
3) I was really sad, because I wasn't invited
4) I was really angry(not violent angry) for all of the above.

All I said was "Okay, I'm trying to drive, talk, and calm a pacing old dog down...I'll let you know, bye"

I was really upset for the 3 hours I was there. I didn't bring my phone in with me, but she had texted me a couple times asking what was up. Got home, calmed down for a bit and called her cell, which I prayed went to VM. It did and I left a pleasant message.

I really controlled an old pattern, which I would NOT have done if I hadn't have read so much.