God used my second wife to pull me out of my hermitage. I had withdrawn into myself so deeply that I hadn’t spoken to anyone for an entire year. I lived ten miles from any town, went to work at night and on weekends, where for the most part, I was alone. I liked it that way.
Then through a series of events, God pulled me out of this. It started
when my first wife had me arrested and I was sent to anger management. There was no class in the area so I attended outpatient AA. I saw and met people who were going through similar types of troubles, although I was not an alcoholic I learned a lot from this class.
Later, I married again, giving my second wife my entire heart. She had a masters in psychology, her focus was on depression and bi-polar personalities.
I was like a newborn, poking my head out from under a comfortable rock, learning to be civil again. She divorced me after a year. Nevertheless, what I learned from her was instrumental to my growth, I went on to work in an office complex. My job was to make certain 1000 people were comfortable. I had the opportunity to interact with many of them. I saw how they personalized their cubicles. I watched the various responses to holidays and celebrations.
I spent the Thanksgiving and Christmases of 1976 alone, away from the one that I loved. for that reason I hated holidays. But as I grew to know these people, I watch how they celebrated each other, I relearned to participate in society.
The journey back took years.
Today, I wonder, “Why can’t my second wife and I remain friends?” I have met her husband and we get along great. But she will not have it. I have invited her to participate in writing these blogs. After all, she is the brain scientist, not me. But she has not and I suspect, will not answer. It is as if we have changed places. I am approaching health while she has withdrawn. It is sad. A good friendship at this level could benefit us all. I have learned so much on this road back to who I once was. But, things are as they are. We can pray for the ones that we love.
ceg
Written 9/19/17