the winter of my family's relationships' discontent

[juldea]

Just got a phone call from my father. His wife of... well, I can't remember exactly when they got married, but it was probably sometime 2002 or 2003, so -- His wife of over five years is apparently going to divorce him. With my little four-year-old half-brother in the mix

Comments

[juldea]

Complete, total, utter, out-of-the-blue surprise.

Unless you're talking more metaphorically, in the sense that they had a 15-year age difference and she was the woman he cheated on my mother with. I understand these things indicate doom. But no other doom has been indicated - and in fact only contentment has - for these intervening years.

[juldea]

Yeah. I mean, I never loved her, but she was nice enough and seemed to make my dad happy.

I'm okay. Just a little overwhelmed by the suck.

[bkdelong]

Ugg. That's really a bummer. The holidays and the economy are bringing the worst out in society and people of late. Travel changes aside, I know this doesn't help your general emotional state either - I'm sorry.

[juldea]

Thanks. It's touching to see nice words from a new acquaintance.

[bkdelong]

It's nothing really - it's always very important to me to make sure someone has a person there for them if needed and to know that their problems and issues are being heard.

I noticed you used the tag "emo" in the last few posts. I'm a very high "NF" on the Myers-Briggs chart. Yes, I know it is not a scientific measurement but I find it a good way to express and explain my rather strong emotional intuitiveness. (Or at least...perhaps a delusional belief of said ability.)

I make it a point (sometimes a rather unfortunate habit if I'm not careful) of reaching out to and being there for friends and acquaintances who are going varying degrees of emotional challenges. I have and continue to struggle with several of my own so such efforts are a response to my needs in the past having been unmet (simply through having completely unrealistic expectations that other people are far more intuitive than normal).

[juldea]

Well, much of my purpose of having an LJ in the first place is to air my problems and issues such that people I know care about me respond and indicate they care. So we have a nice intersection here. ;)

So a decade ago, I was an INTJ on Myers-Briggs. I absolutely know I have grown into an E now, and have recently been more and more certain I'm leaning more towards P these days as well. The NT portion is fairly stable but not overwhelming, and I know there are some times I'm pretty F. It's been a while since I got really tested, though.

Ultimately, though, if your instinctive reaction is to reach out to people who express emotional instability, be aware that I express a lot of it (or at least I think I do), but most of it is minor bitching and whining and temporary states. A person could burn out their emotion chips on me. ;) There are the occasional major Issues, however, such as the post we're technically commenting on here, in which it's really, really appreciated. So thanks again.

[zrealm]

Sorry to hear that :( Hopefully this terrible year wraps up soon, and next year is filled with only good things for you.

[juldea]

Thanks. *hug*

[zrealm]

*hug*

[redknight]

*hugs*

If you find yourself in town for the holidays, my offer for Christmas dinner is still open (although I note that it is Christmas day, not Christmas Eve).

[juldea]

Yep. If these plans fall through, you're my #1 Christmas date.

[redknight]

Woo hoo! :-)

[shadowravyn]

Sorry, lovely one. Perhaps the universe is getting all the suck out now, so 2009 is unparalled bliss--you've hit your crap quote or something.

We'll be around for Xmas, so if things go truly south, you do have some other family who'd love to spend time with you.

[juldea]

I like that brand of optimism. 2008 sucks to make way for the awesomeness of 2009.

If Tex-mas goes south (lol), I'll be happy to spend some portion of that time with you. I'll likely un-take-off the 24th from work to have an extra day of vacation available for the future. But that gives me the 26th and the weekend to spend time with the you-side of my family. <3