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| Catalina Island, Pacific Side, June 2011 |
I threw myself a pity party today. I deserved it and it was
long overdue. I got some bad news on top of a distressing situation on top of a
depressing weekend. See, I deserved it.
Even the largest rock gets ground to sand in time. I am a
nice guy, constantly trying to do the right thing and wherever I turn for
assistance, I get turned down. Again and again. In my heart of hearts I know
the steps I am taking to take control of my life will pay off. But, when?
Patience is indeed a virtue, and I may soon run out. I can only take so much.
I kept the house after the divorce, which means I have the
mortgage and all the bills associated with homeownership. I am grateful I have
a nice place to live. I also kept the three animals, now down to two, and all
the costs associated with them, though the ex does help out some. And I am
grateful for both their company and his assistance. I have tried unsuccessfully
to modify my loan. Yet, it is current, so I don’t qualify for most programs. I
can make my payments and all the necessary
utilities and still provide food for myself and the children. Therefore I still
don’t qualify.
I just don’t have anything left over for fun.
Today, I found out I won’t qualify for the newest homeowner
assistance program because I have entered a credit management program. Like
many of us, I had credit cards and used them. Maybe a bit too much. When my
husband left, and realized I could no longer pay them on time, I took a step to
correct that situation. Today I was penalized for that. That was the sole
reason I was told I would not qualify for the modification. Penalized for
taking corrective action? I felt helpless.
This followed a distressing situation with my dog. He is not
himself and I cannot figure out why. He’s eating fine, drinking fine, walking
fine, and what goes in fine is coming out fine. Yet, he is very skittish and
when I have tried to sit with him and console him or assess him, he avoids me.
We have a ritual. Every night before bed, we go upstairs and we unwind on my
bed, he lies on it while I read, maybe write or watch a DVD (I discontinued the
satellite dish almost immediately after You-Know-Who left.) And this last time when
I went to pet him, he yelped in pain. I tried to examine him, but he wouldn’t
let me. He hasn’t let me near him since and it's been two days. And that hurts. He still wants to be
near me, he’s lying behind me now on his towel. I have emailed my vet, and we
have come to a conclusion he has somehow mysteriously injured himself, possibly his back. He hasn't been on my bed with me since. I feel
helpless.
Kicking this weekend off, I had come to a painful realization I have
given so much power to my fears. I was trapping myself in them. (This in itself is another post.) And I felt
helpless.
After I got the phone call regarding the loan, I was ready to give up. I was trying everything I could to play by the rules, I didn't want to mess up my credit. I wanted to emerge from this with my dignity, to truly feel I had survived, but this afternoon, I was ready to quit, to give up. Nothing drastic mind you, but I'm tired of being the good guy getting the shaft. I FELT HELPLESS.
It all built up, and I broke down.
But, am I helpless over all this?
Not all.
I am not completely helpless over my finances, in that I can control
what I spend. I am not in control over rising prices. But, I can only cut so
much. So, I will continue my non-dating
streak, which is good because the fears I mentioned above also come into play here. And perhaps the Universe has something in mind for me later.
While I am indeed helpless over my dog’s pain, I am doing
what I feel is best. I will let him come to me when he is ready. In the meantime it will still
hurt, but I still see the love in his eyes. He wants to be near me, he’s just
leery of my accidentally hurting him. I hope he knows I would never do anything
intentionally. He’s my little boy. But, it still hurts he won't sit with me, nor let me touch him.
But I am not helpless over my fears.
I will conquer them in time.
At the right time.
Until then, I will just have to take everything with a grain of sand.
You are allowed a pity party now and again. We all need them. Especially when we feel the entire world and everyone working in it is against us. Keep holding on and hang in there!
ReplyDeleteGreg,
DeleteThat's exactly what I feel I have to do. It's not easy when things build at once. But, this is a temporary setback, as difficult as it is, but that also tells me something better is on its way.
I feel your disappointment. It's not the last option. More will come your way. But as to your dog, give him lots of rest. In a cpl of days he 'll be better or you may have to make another tough decision. How old is he?
ReplyDeleteYou're right Jeff: where did my comment go? I did it from my Kindle, put in the security codes, and I saw in last night on your blog. Okay, you are entitled to a little pity party, a little sip of something or a bowl of big daddy ice cream. But the important thing is, there are options coming. The important thing now is Muff's condition. Let him rest for a couple of days, and he'll probably be better. Now that you've told me he's better, I'm happy. And I feel the relief flowing through you. Hugs,
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nancy. Yes, this was a temporary setback. It does get difficult at times when everything seems to be an obstacle, but in the end it will only make me stronger. I am relieved, and envisioning a newer beginning down the road. Everything happens for a reason but only at the right time.
DeleteHugs back to you!
After having a life's partner and they leave it's a huge adjustment to get back to feeling confidant living a solo life. I worry at times about my life w/o hubby. I know I'll have to, like every other widow. All we can do is take a deep breath and say, "I'll do the best I can.
DeleteNancy, you say the sweetest things, and I thank you. You always seem to know what to say. Yes, it has been an adjustment to being single again after 15 years, but it has been even harder getting over the first man I met after the divorce. But, what's done is done and I may never fully understand what happened. I keep taking these breaths and working it out the best I can.
Delete