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Happy Birthday, Marlene. Wherever you are. [I haven't
seen her in about seven years :(]
I just sent this letter to Nolan.
Hi, Nolan.
I wanted to let you know that I plan to stop my therapy with
Joanna tomorrow (unless I totally wimp out -- it will be hard).
It's become somewhat repetitive, and I don't think much is
happening. Though I've made some real progress in the last six
months -- more than probably anyone realizes, except for WolfDaddy,
with whom I've shared almost everything -- I would say that it
is, for the most part, external change in a sense. You said once
that you think I need to be able to be happy with myself before
I try to be with someone else, and I don't know that I've changed
much in that regard, although, while I know what you mean from a
self-esteem point of view and things like that, I'm not so sure that
I am unable to have a successful close relationship. (And while I
don't want to sabotage my efforts, I am 40 years old after all;
I don't have forever to get things in order.) Nonetheless, I think
about that every day, because I value your opinion greatly. And,
while I have to say that I've been doing all this "for me" so as
not to offend the self-esteem police, I really want you to be proud
of me as well.
I'm not unhappy with how things have gone with Joanna (and I very
much appreciate you suggesting therapy, and connecting me up with her).
Even if there haven't been changes deep down, or amazing secrets
revealed [I got nothing out of the Bradshaw work that I did :)], she
did presumably have something to do with the social progress I've made.
Starting with talking to strangers a little bit, and my attempts at
socializing with Rebecca (the Red Robin
waitress), up through taking a
dance class. But I think I can continue on that path without her, and
I don't know that anything would ever happen along the other direction.
Perhaps most significantly, she made me look at my relationship with
you differently ("the friendship test"). While I obviously still wish
I could be the person you want to share your life with, I think I'm
dealing with it, and you, better on a day to day basis; even through
the couple of times that it was uncomfortable (and during which you were
so mature and patient -- I wish you could know how much I respect you for that). In fact, though it's still a bit difficult, I was actually
going to tell you all this not via a letter, but you weren't home when
I called. As usual, of course, I think it's more coherent having been
written down. :)
I don't mean to sound like I'm asking your permission; I just
hope you're not disappointed in me, or think that I'm giving up.
(In fact, I have a date Sunday with a woman I was talking to (okay,
she started the talking, but I contacted her and asked to see her
again) at Tony's party!)
See ya, my friend
C-Dawg