Well, well, well.

Once again, the universe responded to my venting with a loving, ‘why do you keep forgetting that you are not forgotten?!’ moment.

I don’t know how many more of them I get – so I should probably fix whatever it is that needs fixing before I use them all up.

After the dam broke, I flailed a little in the deluge of feelings until I came up for air gasping.

Having purged onto my blog – I found the motivation to check on dinner.  I was plating when my dog started barking – unable to ‘nose’ her way out, I left the kitchen to open the front door for her.

She startled as a friend of mine came walking in.

(This gives me pause for thought by the way – Butters the Brave is never going to be inscribed on her collar.  Any serial killers out there should probably know that they have safe passage into my house simply by stepping around the barking manatee – could you just not wake me up to kill me?  Thanks.)

I didn’t startle.

This is the sort of friend that does just walk in.  And I like it.

I compared her after our chat to Batman.   (okay, mostly I was chatting and she was listening – which was just what I needed)

Only better – because I never have to put a signal up into the sky – she just seems to know when I need her.  She’s like a Jedi friend.  She senses a disturbance in the force and just shows up.

“I came to check on you – you didn’t look good Monday.”

Did I mention she also doesn’t pull any punches?

She had come into the office on business, shortly after I had been on the curb trying to steady my heart and my breathing and regain the vision in my right eye.

We had stood around the candy bowl in the reception area and chatted for a little while.

Last night we reenacted that scene – only on my couches with my little candy bowl between us.

It was sweet.

(Sorry – couldn’t resist)

After I purged and she listened – occasionally offering insight – I felt so much better.

But what I noticed was that I have the hardest time orally.  I can never adequately sum up what is running through my odd little head when it comes to speaking.

My mind is trying to process what it is I’m thinking and feeling and why, the whole time I’m trying to form a sentence!

And I just can’t ever find the right words.

I’m analyzing everything that I know I want to say, before I say it.

This results in me being 10 thoughts ahead of the one that I started to convey when I opened my mouth.  It’s bonkers.  I get tongue-tied.

I was reminded of my poem Mute.

So true.

The most wonderful thing about thinking out loud to a friend is that the problems start to loosen and all the confusing knots start to get worked out.  Friends are like combs.

I couldn’t put my finger on exactly WHAT was the source of my sadness – but we got closer.

I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating:  Unless I acknowledge  what’s bothering me – examine it and find a solution – it’s not going to go away.  And I don’t grow.

Constantly stuffing my feelings and ignoring problems with a fake smile – doesn’t get me anywhere and only results in more tangles.

Another friend, who just returned from Germany (God I missed her!) sent me a quote today that I loved.

“To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee” – William H. Walton.

So true.

And not just for grudges.  To carry a fear or any unresolved issue will eventually diminish your capacity to live your life to the fullest and eat away at your serenity.

So what have I learned this time?

• I don’t have to be alone.  I choose it – I need to choose to let people in
• Butters is a useless guard dog
• Candy bowls make for great conversation  center pieces
• I need to work on my verbal communication skills
• No more stuffing my feelings

And most importantly, I have the most amazing friends.

Now, if I had antibiotics for my ears, I’d be golden.