Harriet wrote to Billy and Ed jumped in . . .
 HL> I still find myself going "to the hardware store for milk".  And 
 HL> am repeatedly disappointed to find out they don't have, can't give
 HL> me, what I need.  I *still* want to find it there.  A lack of
 HL> acceptance, perhaps?  
ROTFLMAO!!!  Makes sense to me.  I keep looking for the chocolate
milk. . .  For me it's a combination of lack of acceptance and a
desire to tell the world how to behave.  I'm getting better though. 
I no longer try to play Highway Patrol with those folks who don't
know how to drive ;-)
 HL> It seems to me that there should be a middle ground, somewhere between
 HL> not having anything to do with them, and being totally enmeshed with
 HL> them.  Unfortunately, I can't find that balance...and neither, it
 HL> seems, can they.  Lack of anything but total enmeshment doesn't seem to
 HL> be acceptable to them...and I take a lot of abuse because of it.  So
 HL> I tend to think that, maybe, I shouldn't have anything to do with
 HL> them.  But that doesn't feel like the right answer either.
FWIW, I moved 3,000 miles partly to get away from that same exact
situation.  So given that, I try to be the best son, etc. I can
given the difference in lifestyles.  I call, I send cards, they come
out to visit and we go back there occasionally.  I live my life but 
not around their expectations of me.
 HL> More will be revealed, I guess.
Ain't that the truth ;-)
hugs --
Ed
... You're not the person you used to be -- but then you never were.
--- Blue Wave/QBBS v2.30
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