A Very Different Life

I was still working the same job. Vending at the Hospital. But everything else changed. I'd lost the people I thought were my friends. Eventually some of them did treat me better, but only B.G. ever apologized and became a trusted friend again. (She's the one who took W in after he got out of the Hospital. Remember, walked a mile in my moccasins.)

When I moved into Bears house, I realized I had moved into his life. I realize now I was naive not to realize it would be like that. But at the time of the move, it hadn't sunk in that my friends were gone from my life. Of course, it was moving in with him that was the final straw.

This man was totally different. This became very clear when the stress and turmoil made my headaches unbearable. Always before I'd gone off to the bedroom to suffer in silence and alone. Bear wouldn't allow it. This man would follow me, sit beside me, and hold my hand. He wanted to do something. Once I'd taken a pain pill, there was nothing anyone could do. I'd never been treated like this before. My Mother was right about Bear. Now I was with a man who had priorities that included me. It took some getting use to.

I met his friends. One of them was married to the daughter of a man who called square dances. We started going to square dances with them. I'd loved these dances since childhood when the Jr. Leadership Club had them. But no one would go with me since I'd danced with my Father. We had a Gym teacher in High School who had us square dancing in gym Class. And, he came to study hall to fill out his squares. For one glorious semester I was dancing 2 or 3 times a day. When Bear started taking me square dancing again, I was thrilled. I usually paid when we got home with another king size headache. It may have been a stupid thing to do, but I really think it was worth it. I had so much fun. We were also going to the Moose dances. I liked his friends and I enjoyed my new life. It would have been perfect if TK hadn't moved away.

I did talk Bear into bowling with me. We joined a league in a different bowling alley from the one I'd always gone to with W. Even that was a whole different experience. Surely you've seen the funny video's where the ball sticks to the bowlers thumb. That was what bowling with Bear was like. This man is a clown, and he's only happy when he can make everyone around him happy. It was a party everywhere I went with him.

My sons will tell you I've always said no one else can embarrass you. You aren't responsible for their actions and shouldn't feel embarrassed by what they do. Welllll.....that isn't always true. There are no limits to what my husband will do to make others laugh. Including telling about private moments he's shared with me. I have long since learned to accept that anything goes when Bear wants to make others laugh. And, I've learned to hold my own with him.

With this in mind, I am now warning my sons that the next x-rated story may be more information then they want to know. I can tell it because Bear already told everyone we knew at the time. So, with time, I am past being embarrassed by a funny, no longer private, moment. This was my first lesson in survival with Bear, and I've learned it well.