Piecing together, or not?

[25yearsmlc]

VC,
2 things: First --the workshop you are referring to, (give me your email if you want, so I can send you the info and not have to post here, but for now--)
Where do you live? Most of the workshops are in Philadelphia but There are occasional EE workshops on the west coast, and they used to do a graduate level (not Mandatory that you've done the first, but would make way more sense to you) "EE II" is what I called it, and that is a week done out in the Sierras. Spectacular and life changing. If you could only attend one, do the main, first one. And no, you don't then have to go seek out to recruit others, or raise money for it. And if you want to go back to do "Team" to support a friend of yours that goes (not always a good idea, but can be) you can. And btw, "team volunteer" was free to go back and do. I've paid once to do the Main " EE I" workshop, and have done Team 4 times since. Once did team with H and OMG, those years in our marriage were our PEAK years, and probably why I've hung in here with this whole MLC thing. And like you said, the support groups and communities that form as a result of such clear connections with other people at their/our core levels, without judgement, are life long. Literally. One of my favorite memories is of a man who took it with me, trying to find himself and wanting to help others. A GREAT husband, btw. He is now in Congress! (So at least one guy there is REAL...) I won't say his name in case it's not for public knowledge, but I love that EE gave him that clarity. I would not have done ANY stand up comedy or any theater if I had not given myself permission to find and follow my bliss, which I learned to do at EE. Last but NOT LEAST,
I THINK it is one of the only groups like this that don't try to manipulate you, estrange you from other "non" members, or get money. Actually sort of like AA except you are not brought together due to alcoholism. BTW, at the start You do have to commit for the 4 days you are there, that you won't use mind altering substances. About half the time, right when that commitment is requested, someone gets up then and there to leave. Which is fine. I sound like a cult member and probably could make a commercial for it. Yeah, it's a good thing. I think I need to go back to do Team and get some dang clarity and an "action plan" again...

2nd, too tired to post much else now. H is here, but fell asleep putting d9 to bed. Had d18's birthday party and it went touchingly well. We did the "downtown Hollywood nightspot" for dinner with her 8 friends, cousin and SIL....$$cha ching!! But you only get one 18th birthday. (I figure we can kick her out now and rent out her room since wth, she IS an adult after all....yes folks, I am joking....(but VC already knew that). Anyway, H saw her best friends and at the end of the night when we all hung out talking about boyfriends, including abusive wackos, "Mr. Wonderfuls", alcohol, college, etc. H witnessed two things he didn't truly know: 1st, that he has missed hundreds of nights of fun and memory building/bonding just like this one. I am close to her friends and they confide a lot in me, and that's the 2nd thing he witnessed. It seemed to strike him that they call my "Mama --J"
and all hug me arriving and departing. It was a good night. D18 was happy.
I wonder if he ever wonders what HE could have been to these girls. Many of them lack a parent, and hence, their need level. Ohhhh, he has missed much. (sigh)

I think I will go wake up H, b/c he's leaving Sunday night, which is in about 15 hours....If nothing financially GREAT happens to me here in the next 6 months, I expect I probably will take d9 up to Alaska for a "try". First I want to define 'try' with H, and agree on whatever we can. I know I have to do that BEFORE I leave here. And yes, the plan so far, is to keep this house which I have put a lot into, solo btw, and thereby keep an exit strategy for the winter if it gets to be too much for me, OR if H goes nutty/nasty on me....hey, I am working on trusting fully, but I don't want to be an idiot...

talk to you soon. What's up at your end? Where are you posting now? And again, what state do you live in?
j-