Monday, May 4, 2009

multi-Fbombs in paragraph 8



I had stopped watching Dallas by the time this particular episode aired, but the howls of outrage from loyal viewers were loud enough to catch my attention. Evidently after an entire season of soap opera craziness about Bobby Ewing being dead, they were now going to write off the whole thing as a dream sequence and pretend like it never happened. Maybe their ratings went down, maybe the contract negotiations worked out for their actors after all, maybe they simply thought what the hell, but the bottom line is that they just went ahead and took the whole damn thing back. Can you imagine? The nerve! You can't just take something like that back, can you?


Yes. Yes, you can. Isn't that weird?


My disappearing act in the last week has been completely necessary to my mental health, absolutely crucial in getting some things worked out in my own head. I've always known that I would come out of this divorce a stronger, more self-reliant person, but I had no idea of how that all actually worked. It's one of those things that you don't understand until you're in it. And even then it takes a lot of time and effort to actually figure out. But when things started to fall in place earlier last month, it set off a chain reaction that really threw me. I reacted in ways that are very out of character, and in ways that really confused me. I know who I am, and I know what my point of view is. And now, after a week and a half of intense soul searching, I think I know how to present it. And to whom.


A little more than a year ago, I wrote this post, asking people for opinions on which direction to take this blog. The verdict was clear at that time. We want to go with you on this journey. We don't want you to write fluff when there are more serious things on your mind. So over the last year I've written a lot of stuff about my marriage and my divorce and my kids and all the things that have been in the forefront of my mind. And I know for a fact that some of you are sick to death of hearing about it. I know that there is a faction out there that thinks I've become bitter and whiny and basically lost both my sense of humor and my mojo in one fell swoop. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt by that opinion, but I can see where it could come from. I'm not the person I was a year ago, certainly not the person I was two years ago. When life throws you a great big curve ball, the best people manage to change and adapt. For the better. It would not say positive things about me if I were just carrying on with my life as if the last year never happened. The underlying person hasn't changed, but my world view sure has. How could it not?



But the absolutely incredible thing for me over the last year has been the universal element of what I've been going through. When my mother wryly said Welcome to the Club last Spring, I had no idea of what all that entailed, but I've found out. I can't express what a relief it has been as I've grappled with various issues to realize that this same shit is happening everywhere, and in frighteningly familiar ways. It comes across in comments, it comes in emails and IM chats and phone calls - there are a hell of a lot of us who already have or are still in the process of navigating these same waters and we tell amazingly similar stories. It's like David Letterman doing Stupid Ex-Husband tricks. You think yours is bad? Honey, I can top that! And then they DO! Incredible. Who knew?


It also seems to me that it may look like I spend most of my time ruminating about the end of my marriage, which simply isn't the case. I hate to bring this up, but here goes. A few road bumps notwithstanding, I am the happiest I've ever been in my entire adult life. My only regret is that we didn't do this years ago. And...I work full-time in a fairly demanding job. I have three kids who run me ragged. Three dogs who think they're all that. A 122 year old house that is actively trying to kill me - in more ways than one. I have friends, I have hobbies, I have meals to cook, bills to pay and toilets to clean. In short, I have a pretty full life. This blog, much as I love it, maybe touches on 5% of that life. All of you who have blogs know this. There's only so much you can write about on a regular basis. The rest just doesn't fit in.


So where am I going with all of this? What is my own particular Bobby Ewing moment? Well, to start with I'm opening up the blog publicly again. I have a few reasons for this, including the fact that I just want to. But the main one is this. Making it private never felt authentic, never felt like me. I did it because I didn't want my ex to be able to access my thoughts, didn't want him to think he had any insight into what I did or didn't do, even as he insisted he didn't read MY blog to hear about ME. So much has shifted in the prairie tidal wave of the last few weeks and I say what I'm about to say with open heart and clear mind.


Fuck him. If he chooses to he can read my thoughts all day long, but he can't touch me. Fuck him again. The reason that I vented in my "personal" blog was to be able to keep that anger out of our at the time civil relationship. Fuck him a third time. I refuse to give him the power - through his words or his actions - to impact something I love as much as I love doing this blog. And fuck him once more while I'm at it. Because I don't ever have to worry again about what he thinks. Fuck him one last time. Because I'm done.



And now... (finally)...



on with our regularly scheduled programming.

24 comments:

Rose said...

Ooh baby, good for you! Glad to hear from you and glad you're doing fine.

Rudee said...

Good for you. You're right about taking the blog public again.

You're also right in that this process of divorce and becoming single again changes us, and not everyone for the better-or worse-just different. How can you spend that many years with someone and emerge from a divorce unscathed? I myself came out of it with a loathing for alcoholism and alcoholics in general. For awhile, I painted them all with the same brush. I could tell you stories that would raise the hair on the back of your neck, but I won't, and mainly because I couldn't possibly care less about that man-truly.

Eventually, you'll grow even more. May you continue to find happiness in yourself, your kids, your dogs, your ancient home, your job and this blog.

Deanna Bland Hiott PhD, MSN, RN said...

Yay, you're back ! I missed you and your blog. Welcome back girl. That's the spirit! ;)

ped crossing said...

Don't envy you the journey on this one, but you won the race. You are made of strong stuff my friend. :)

Kaytabug said...

Oh honey, I've been waiting a year for you to say that!!! High 5!!!

Altaglow said...

Excellent!!

Irene said...

Good job, RC, stick to your guns, woman. You tell it like it is and no other way and forget about who may be reading along getting big red ears from the excitement. Don't worry about that dullard. He is dust in the wind to us, right? Besides, you can keep us equally entertained with how you scrub the toilets and keep the boys and the dogs in check. It isn't all about him and he has to come to realize that.

sharon said...

Well good for you RC! Looking forward to reading whatever you want to write. There's so much more to your world than the effing FX and his opinions ;-)

Stacie said...

Bravo! I am grinning from ear to ear with happiness! Fuck him indeed.

Maggie May said...

Good for you! It's your blog. You can do & say what you like in it.. & he can shove off if he doesn't like it.

auntiegwen said...

Good girl yourself x

lebanesa said...

Good.

Now let's get on with it. We want to hear about those toilets.

BTW When that foolish ex does stupid stuff we want to hear that as well. As you say, it's good to know that other people have idiots for exes.

Anyone who doesn't want to read you doesn't have to.

hugs

Amy said...

YES!!! Woohoo! Tell it, sister.

Tiggerlane said...

You are amazing!! Your honesty in your adventure, including your introspection has me wanting to me the president of your fan club.

I am so glad to know you are HAPPY...b/c that is worth everything!

Potty Mummy said...

Good for you, RC!

Akelamalu said...

Well good for you - Fuck him!

flutterby said...

Yeeessss!! RC rules!

My Aimless Infatuation said...

As a Member of the club I would like to share one thing with you,well actually two things. First,you are amazing,second,You have made the climb(the hard part)it's all down hill from here. And the day WILL come(believe it or not)when you can be in the room with him and NOT think,fuck you.

Mimi said...

Well good for you! Reading down through your post I was afraid that you'd decided to stop blogging, and that would be a shame.
So glad to see you back, take care, mimi

Devon said...

GREAT!!!!

You are not bitter, you have been going through tons of emotional and physical changes. Like you said, look at the whole picture. An angry moment on a given day does not make you bitter!

My sister's ex cheated with a coworker(also married). My sis hated her ex and the woman, but she got to the point of realizing, as you have, that she is free and he and the Woman are nothing to her. Her life is filled with family, friends and a new career(she has now been an RN for one year, not bad for a 46 year old)!

I know this is long, but my point is that you, like us all, are constantly changing. Maybe for a day or a week or a month you were bitter, (and I'm not saying you were), but you have processed and are changed and will get all of your best qualities honed and strong!

Glad you are back in an authentic way! Fear nothing!!!

Cath said...

Good for you girl. Good for you.

And no, I am not sick of it. I still whine and whinge 20 years later. But not as much as I did 20 years ago (your nearest and dearest will be pleased to hear.)

Life goes on. Private blogging is just not the same so I soooo understand. In fact, on that note, if you would please come over to mine and read the post "Memes" then I wanna tell you something I won't say in a public forum. hope to see you there.

And good on ya girl. ((hug))

Marti said...

Good for you, RC! I admire you more and more everyday.

Pamela said...

I'm smiling. Hope you don't mind.

aims said...

*dancing around with joy*

Here's a huge hug from me!

Finally!!

Woohooooooooo!!!