May you live in interesting times – Ancient Chinese Curse
Wow… What a ride the past few months have been. Let’s do some catching up:
On our previous episode I was happy with life. I had my house almost done (it’s still almost done but now it’s functional) and I was ready to settle into my life of bachelorhood.
Then I got a call from a friend: another friend (or acquaintance, rather) and his fiancée had been kicked out of their house. Rather than be asked by my friend I willingly opened my door to this couple and invited them to move in. Which was fine – then they informed me of the two girls she had – still fine, just not as much as I have little zero kid living with me experience. Even so I still invited them to stay.
So I met the girls, the rest of his kids and we settled into a halfway decent routine. All seemed well until one night he got rip-roaring drunk.
So wasted he fell down the steps, cut his hand and then fell down in the kitchen and sat there bleeding. Refusing help. At this point she was at her second day at work so I sent the kids downstairs, called our mutual friend to talk to him and then spoke with the finacée. I ended up picking her up at work so she could deal with the situation. they fought, i was hit with some severe stress and heard words that made me immediately regret my generosity. These words came from the 12 year old
“I’ve seen this so many times….” –
I suddenly realize that his alcoholism was not as controlled as I was led to believe.
After a short night of little sleep and a long day at work coupled with a ton of prayer and thinking I arrived at an idea. He called and apologized and swore it would never happen again.
That night we sat down and hammered out a plan: He needed treatment and to attend CR at church. He was also to seek counseling for the underlying factors in his alcoholism. He was not to get drunk again, period. They were welcome to stay as they got back on their feet but any break in this agreement and I’d be forced to ask them to leave.
After about 30 minutes he left to take her to work and them came home. I began to notice a change in his voice and he began stumbling over his words. He then fell in the kitchen – again.
Needless to say, I was livid. This occurred not two hours after we had spoken and he had shaken my hand. I now understood how little they respected me.
He was forced to stay outside the remainder of that night and I again got little sleep. The next day I sought consul outside of immediate family and friends and spoke with many of my recovered alcoholic friends. I realized I was enabling them to ignore his problem and I had no choice but to ask them to leave. I asked them to be gone in three days.
After three days we met again, they’d apparently had no luck securing housing so, with the backing of my parents, I allowed them two weeks to find something, period. No extensions this time. They have to be out.
Today they have approximately 5 days left. They’ve apparently secured housing but are trying to come up with the necessary deposits. So that’s where that situation is at. I haven’t seen them in a few days other than “hi” and “bye” (on my part) due to other commitments.
I’m just ready for this stress to be gone.
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Now, on to other parts of life!
In April I am heading down to Aiken, SC for approximately 10 months – perhaps longer depending on how the project I’ll be working on unfolds. I’m excited as I am blessed with the gift of travel.
Aiken is about 2 hours away from two cities I’d dearly love to spend some time in – Savannah and Charleston. It’s also 2 hours from the ocean which promises decent seafood. I have been a seafood lover trapped in a land locked state. I also plan on spending a lot of time running around with my camera.
Bring on the adventure!
I have someone who’s going to rent the place – she and her friend have been looking at getting an apartment – so this will both save them money and me the worry of an unoccupied house.
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