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Dave Gilbert's avatar

Your descriptions were hilarious “yoga master,couldn’t touch their toes” thanks I needed a smile.

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Jess's avatar

I had a friend, that came across as very strong and kind. She was like a force of nature. She was great at sweeping you away with her grand stories and pulling at your emotions hard. She had a way that made me feel like my needs were small in comparison to hers, especially as a single, non-parent at the time. I gave her money when I was in the Navy to the point that I only ate one base and had no money for anything else. I gave away my gaming devices to her children, I watched her children and cleaned her house after I left the Navy because her husband left her. The longer I knew her and the closer I was to her, the more cruel she seemed. If you gave her sympathy, attention, and affection she would repay it with belittlement and a open hand. But, if she wanted someone's attention and they were destructive to her and her children, she would chase them like there was no tomorrow.

It took bruises on my neck from her hands and when she tried to charge my boyfriend for staying the night, when I paid half the rent and utilities before I was able to pull myself and walk away. She was a forever victim, there was no teaching this one to catch fish, she knew how to make other's fish for her.

I admire your ability to see through people's emotional b-s. The older I get, the more I trust people who don't thrust themselves at you with kindness and enthusiasm during first meetings like at work or the like. I trust more the people who hang back a little, or have a bit more caution to them. Kindness and giving time, affection, help, has to be even.

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