Gosh...I've been 'away' for a long time. Going through a really difficult time, the end of a 17 year marriage, and though the end began over 4 years ago, I still don't really understand what happened, or why.
Eden kept me going at first, gave me something to occupy my days, let the brain get a little exercise. But eventually depression kicked in severely enough I lost interest in...everything, really. I've always been a voracious reader, loved off-kilter TV and movies, played games and cards with friends, ice skated, painted, wrote, did needlework and embroidery, chatted with friends constantly on the phone, loved eating out; but as my marriage slipped further away, so did my interest in and energy for everything. I literally spent about a year curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, with my beloved bulldog on my lap, and just waited for each day to end. Never even turned on the TV, picked up a magazine, put on some music; checked email once a week or so. But I usually checked Eden, too, just to see what was new and exciting. Watched some old friends disappear, and saw some interesting new people arrive. But that's it. Well, ok--checked Sephora, too. Sex and makeup held my attention for at least a little while each week, and that's more than I can say about anything else. Got up at 9:00 or 10:00 every morning, showered, got dressed, then sat and waited for bedtime. I only saw sunshine because I had to take the dog out; I waited until dark to check the mail because I didn't want to risk any neighbors talking to me. Doctors fed me pills to 'help;' I guess they did in a way, since I'm still here to write this--I won't say they kept me sane, they just kept me numb enough to survive. For a generally anti-social creature, I had a solid circle of around a dozen friends in the area who'd been around for more than a decade, and put up with the wreck I'd become for the sake of the happy woman they used to know. Eventually, though, I got so bad it started to affect them; I was constantly surrounded by a cloud of pain and anger and confusion and hopelessness that smothered anybody near me. So I left my friends, for their sakes.
Slowly, eventually, I started pulling back together--more for the people who loved me than for myself. I'm still pretty broken, but not totally shattered anymore. The actual divorce process is beginning, and, well, it sucks. Badly. Seriously, if you've never divorced, I don't recommend it. Having my constant partner become my opponent is harder than I ever imagined anything could be. He stopped by today to get his mail, and he hugged me tight; I told him I love him, and that I wanted to punch him for putting us through this and not just being happy. Then I gave him a little kiss on the head and he left.
(to be continued...)