Glad that my update yesterday brought some smiles around to the BB. PIB, I had to laugh at your clarification, and just want to give you a hug (((PIB))) and tell you I understand what you were saying all along. Hey, as long as we're dispensing thanks, I'll tell you that your insight as to why the fears were present were VERY helpful and kept me focused on what was truly important.
I am going to let Mr. Wonderful sketch out how he feels this reconcilation needs to work ideally for him. I'm not as concerned about me... I've logged way too much time in IC and I have all you guys here. I figure if we can't come up with some solutions to problems that crop up, nobody can!
One thing for sure: we will not be sweeping this under the rug and pretending the past 18 months have not happened. There will need to be a meeting of the minds, as well as the hearts and souls too. We'll see what this looks like as the story unfolds.
I was on my cell phone--talking to one Colorado based BB member (thanks, Linda!)--driving around the streets of my neighborhood when I spotted Mr. W. and the girls traveling the opposite direction. Funny, I knew exactly where they were going... to Applebees.
Saw the car there, hung up with Linda (did you give K a hug for me too?) and walked in the restaurant. D7 saw me first and bubbled with joy... quickly followed by a squeal from D10 and a very happy man who smiled from ear to ear (including his eyes) who exclaimed, "Look! Mom's here! Now she can join us!"
I had dinner with them and it was pretty normal--that is, conversation flowed smoothly and dinner was good. Yes, Triple J, I endured another grilled chicken salad...
Mr. W. was eating his steak caesar salad when he urged D10 to tell me about "the incident" at camp earlier that day... which I discovered another boy had been fondling himself under the table. Fortunately, it was another boy (who is a good friend of D10's) who caught him and told him to knock it off. But D10 in her mouthy ways went over to this kid and said, "If you ever do that again, you little perv, I'll make sure the teacher catches you."
Mr. W. was strongly encouraging her to knock him upside the head...
Anyhoo, true to his word, he took D7 and D10 hopped in the car with me. For the first time since, well, I can't remember, he hovered around my car and chatted. I drove away first, my last glimpse being a man and his daughter waving frantically at us.
That's it for now. I still have lots of stuff to mentally reconcile... and that is not going to be easy.
Oh, and for those of you have followed my weight loss efforts, I'm probably going to reach goal tomorrow. That will total 38 lbs that have gone somewhere else, and I'm now down to my pre-D10 form. And I'm really happy about where I am... mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
I have a lot to be thankful for, regardless of my outcome. I've made some amazing friends here. And you will remain part of me for the rest of my days. Mr. W. is just going to have to get over it and understand that he will be sharing me with even more folks than before. It's who I am, and I'm not willing to negotiate on this one either.
Betsey
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Betsey 
