Dear Shookie:

I like how you refer to your mother: “my Precious Mother”. The sun is shining here this morning but the sky is hazy with smoke (wildfires). I slept okay, not great, thank you, and I am trying to smile right now… I managed a light smile… here it is growing a bit, done! Thank you for the suggestion to go to  bed with comforting thoughts and feelings, and sorry to read that three of your fur babies (for some reason I thought all your babies were dogs) are not feeling well. I wonder what your Balinese was doing on a pine tree?? And the latest edition is.. a dog (two cats, two dogs)? You are definitely a loving and responsible pet owner/ pet mom!… A spontaneous smile appeared on my face when I imagined your cats chasing bubbles!

“I had an awakening moment & thought this is crazy. The type of life I would have with him is everything I don’t want and if we were together, there would be the drama that would come from his clan.  I live a very drama-free quiet life… what we had was sweet but not the life I want… All he thinks about is work and family and I am a deterrent to that Drama.  Hopefully, I will stand my ground“- what you had was sweet. Sugary stuff left overnight on the kitchen counter attracts insects.. and that’s unpleasant to wake up to in the morning.

“I am starting to feel bad for him because I feel he does not want to be living the life he is in and feels trapped.  He told me he wanted a happy life but taking care of so many people he couldn’t“-

– it is quite possible that if he exited the drama-filled, over-worked trap he is now, he will feel even more trapped in a drama-free, leisurely life. Did this possibility occur to you?

anita