How did I get here (cont)
Of course it was a crisis with the in-laws that got me reviewing my resume. Ya can't divorce your own family, but dumping the chump is a standardized solution for gnarly in-laws. Just put your John Hancock on the line and they are gone. Keep your perfections in your own yard, Bozo. They look super good on your Saint Augustine alter.
Ah, striving for compassion.
They are 80something years old and in the high maintenance years. Fortunately, they are fully adapted to to the use of domestics. For now, they can afford them. For now. Domestic help for the high maintenance years ain't cheap. For all we know, they are already floating on credit. Not that it really matters from our end. For now.
My husband comes from a long line of Texas good old boys. His father traded the family farm for the oil biz and raised my husband in a gated community in Houston. A fragrant blend of old Texas prejudices and new money ethics. My husband married this "piece of white trash" in hopes of escaping the legacy. We don't know which side of our family is more challenging: my substance abusing clan or his clan of perfect deception. For sure we don't mix the two. He is in charge of relations on his side and I take charge of mine. When we cross those lines, it is with full respect for the chain of command. I went to Houston with orders to check in on his Dad. His Mom has just suffered a series of strokes and his Dad is not taking it well. It just didn't seem right to leave him alone and his established domestics are not qualified to help with this one.
It wasn't bad. Boring as hell, but not abusive. It was only 5 days spread over two weeks. Just a few more rounds of the old fishing stories and lots of time to wander amidst the museum quality antiques and allot of time to contemplate life in the gilded cage. Hmmmm...
I fooled around and fell in love and I am still in love after 32 years. But, as Tina Turner pointed out, what's love got to do with it? Do I want the gilded cage? is the more important question. I know I am loved in return, but that gilded cage is all my husband has to offer. He is as busy and controlling an executive as his daddy. No time for expanding repertoires.
time to update the resume? I am 57. I am running out of time to decide.
Ah, striving for compassion.
They are 80something years old and in the high maintenance years. Fortunately, they are fully adapted to to the use of domestics. For now, they can afford them. For now. Domestic help for the high maintenance years ain't cheap. For all we know, they are already floating on credit. Not that it really matters from our end. For now.
My husband comes from a long line of Texas good old boys. His father traded the family farm for the oil biz and raised my husband in a gated community in Houston. A fragrant blend of old Texas prejudices and new money ethics. My husband married this "piece of white trash" in hopes of escaping the legacy. We don't know which side of our family is more challenging: my substance abusing clan or his clan of perfect deception. For sure we don't mix the two. He is in charge of relations on his side and I take charge of mine. When we cross those lines, it is with full respect for the chain of command. I went to Houston with orders to check in on his Dad. His Mom has just suffered a series of strokes and his Dad is not taking it well. It just didn't seem right to leave him alone and his established domestics are not qualified to help with this one.
It wasn't bad. Boring as hell, but not abusive. It was only 5 days spread over two weeks. Just a few more rounds of the old fishing stories and lots of time to wander amidst the museum quality antiques and allot of time to contemplate life in the gilded cage. Hmmmm...
I fooled around and fell in love and I am still in love after 32 years. But, as Tina Turner pointed out, what's love got to do with it? Do I want the gilded cage? is the more important question. I know I am loved in return, but that gilded cage is all my husband has to offer. He is as busy and controlling an executive as his daddy. No time for expanding repertoires.
time to update the resume? I am 57. I am running out of time to decide.
Replies