Under a Big Umbrella

[HaWho]

Geez KML - that is an awful lot of injuries. And as for the whole rest of the story, you really are to be admired for standing through all that. One of the best things about having you here, still posting, is that in addition to your great advice, you have remained very positive about life. It's good for all of us to see that. Of all that you wrote about what you stood through, that was my takeaway: you can remain positive. It's possible. Thank you for all your advice and the time you give here.

Roist - matching writing sets, too funny! (Don't give him any ideas.)

So, he did a good job. He had a gift for me from Santa. It was some shopping spree cash. It's most noteworthy in that it's how he used to be. In MLC, he has been so stingy, it's been awful to watch. (I don't necessarily "need" him to be as generous as he was but I definitely find it hard to be with an un-generous person.)

I genuinely thanked him.

Then he had a gift that was from him. It was a beautiful and unique Christmas decoration, a music box, really. I hugged him and said thanks. I love it. It's the sort of thing I would love. (The hug felt awkward. He seemed uncomfortable overall throughout the night.)

He seemed to like my gift. It was something personally sentimental to him. Nothing to do with us. He looked at it a long while and I think he was tearing up a bit. There was emotion in his eyes. I think he might have been looking down at it to fight the tears back.

Another noteworthy thing? At the end of the night h mentioned he is meeting up with his pre-MLC friend. This is the one that h dropped for no good reason. The guy was a good friend to him and did not deserve that treatment. They have not spoken for 2 1/2 years. H said the friend had reached out to him a few times. Not sure if that's how it all unfolded. But, I hope they can patch it up. They had been friends for 10 good years.

Thanks again everyone for the support and advice. I appreciate all your time.