You Tell Me Now?

After I posted last week, I heard from my high school sweetheart, Will.  A year older than me, much wiser in the ways of the world, a brainiac with an impressive vocabulary, nerdy but much cooler.  My humor requirement came from him.  Like all upstanding Southern teens, we met at church.  He was Baptist.  I was Presbyterian, but, he showed up at a youth event with one of this friends.  He appeared a lot more after our initial meeting.

For two years until he left for college, we shared a joy reserved for a first love.  It's still there, I think, although we haven't seen each other in decades.  Bless his heart, he's happily married to his college love.  I was incredibly naive at 15; he was hilariously irreverent.  I was intimidated by his wit; he significantly expanded my thinking and vocabulary.  He used the word, 'erudite.'  I'll never forget that--a 16 year old!!

Naturally, my mother thoroughly disliked him.  She liked to flirt with my boyfriends, engaging them in conversation long after I'd called it a night.  Will was having none of that.

After posting Mother-Daughter Relationship, he wrote:  "I bet I could add some dimension to the description of your mother.  She never really cared for me.  Be safe."

Me:  "She never really cared for me either.  Thought you could relate to that one."

Will:  "I was going to put that in my email, but felt it was presumptuous.  She was always jealous of you."

Me:  "OMG!  I cannot believe you said that!  I just never really got that until very recently.  You couldn't have told me that 50 years ago?"

His people judgment was always spot on.  I saw the world through rose-colored glasses.  How could a mother be jealous of a daughter?  Never crossed my mind.  But, years of self-destructive behavior, ragged relationships, and, finally, some tough love counseling brought me right there.  And, I'm okay.

In fact, I'm who I am because she's who she is.  I love her for that.

Will:  "I should've told you but, at one point, you signaled that you were fine and that was all I cared about."

Me:  "I'm still evolving but, God knows, I've had one helluva life."

Will:  "You are the finest, no need to ever beat yourself up again.  Let it come to you, it will."

Is that beautiful?!  I had to tear up when I read that.

Me:  "If the man thing doesn't work out, I'll settle for a beach house in Florida."

Will:  "Less upkeep."