Susan, such such an overflow of grief, love, anger, sorrow, love, frustration... did I mention love? I'm glad that while you expressed the thought that few here know or care (the line to which Ebbie, being both kind and caring, took exception) you said it here, where time and time again over the years I've read such rants by people who've reached a boiling point or the depths of sorrow. You knew that here you could post such an outpouring and that enough of us would have sufficient understanding to receive and respond to the heart of your post without being overwhelmed by or closed to it.

I'm reminded of the following quote, and I hope that I am able to meet some of your need without misinterpretation through ignorance of the particulars of your own journey. My copy of it hangs on the wall in our front hall.

"Friendship:

Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are - chaff and grain together- certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." Dinah Mulock

maeve