this rocky path WILL smooth out

[JustStunned]

if one considers the "stages of the lbs" i think that i am going into acceptance, along with the depression and a twinge of resentment. to recognize it for what it is and to understand that it will pass and then i'll be in another stage - that is where the patience and understanding really starts to come for me.

It is a nice place to get to! Do not be surprised if you get there several times. In my experience I cycled through several times. Each took less time than the previous. Perhaps we learn to recognize cycling and move through more naturally

As for MLC, vs. WAS, vs. WAS in transition I would suggest not focusing too much upon how to classify the alien. It is natural to do so in the beginning. I certainly wasted time and energy upon it. I am not saying to discount these as they can come in handy if our spouses ever begin to move toward us. Sort of the same kind of confidence litmus paper offers “Yep thought that was acidic”, but it is all subjective, subject to our perceptions.

So I suggest not focusing, for when I ceased focusing upon her and what stage she was in, and began to focus on self, was where I can begin to count real progress.