The two big trouble makers ranked in no particular order:
- Tires
- Testicles
While in the midst of my separation from Husband #1, his step-brother and the step-brother’s girlfriend stopped in for a weekend visit. We ate, we drank, we played with the dog, and we laughed. It was a bit surreal since this was one of Husband #1’s family members, but this guy and I had always gotten along.
You know, like the two sane people at a family reunion of crazies.
My two visitors presented me with a little “survival” gift bag: a bottle of wine, a plaque with the Tires and Testicles quote, and a funny card that had a shrieking cartoon woman on the front holding a card with the caption, “What Fresh Hell Is This?!?” Upon seeing this card, I laughed so hard that I peed a little.
The step-brother and I knew that this was probably one of the last times that we would hang out together (it was) and upon departure, both he and the girlfriend hugged me for a long time. They looked me in the eye and said, “You’re not Satan. He’s crazy for leaving.”
My self-esteem was in the tank during this time period. That weekend meant so much to me. It was a way to say goodbye to someone who’s company and conversation I really enjoyed. I still have the card and the plaque. I kept them all these years as a reminder of how tires and testicles may give you trouble but support and love come from the most unexpected places.
One of the hardest things about divorce is losing the people we once considered family, for myself it almost felt like more of a blow because I thought the world of my ex- mother-in-law and thought she felt the same…throughout the divorce I kept in contact and she would ask questions….it felt like the ultimate betrayal when I found out later that not only did she know my ex was having an affair but she was taking all the information I was sharing and telling him…at least his sister came out and told me she was only there for her brother and he could do no wrong.