It was pretty awful. But it is over and I am at a better point in my life and, you know what, I know myself a lot better partially because of it. I know that when I have to make a tough decision I can and I will make the decision that I think is right for me even if I'm mostly alone. (My family wasn't aware. I think most of my friends were scandalized. Gossip is a thing that happens.) "Life is short and pain is long and we were all put here on this earth to help each other." - Stephen King, Firestarter I think eventually if I don't work at my relationship with my mother, I will consider it a mistake. But my mother is a little bit loopy and it makes things hard. And yes - so very easy to give advice - so very hard to not do what the heart wants. I only hope to learn from every misstep and, Anne of Green Gables, find new ones instead of repeats. (In jest! Ha. As long as my new mistakes are not as big as some of my old ones.)