Maybe. Maybe not. I do think it will be though. Kinda. Oh well, it’s my blog so I get to whine write about whatever I want. Incessantly. You’re welcome.
Remember that awesome message I found on FB that had been hidden away for 4 looooong years? The one where one of TD’s exes informed me of all the less than flattering lies and untruths that he shared with her about me and our non-relationship? Yeah, that one. In true GG style, I immediately penned a scathing e-mail to TD. And then didn’t send it. But did proceed to edit it for over a month. I wavered back and forth between completely annihilating him for being so disrespectful and making me look like a fool after all I’d done for him and toning it down to just a semi pathetic plea with many ‘why would you do that’s’ that make me sound like the pathetic sap I was back then thrown in for good measure. I opted out of sending anything (but of course kept a draft of the message just in case).
After I was informed of the impending nuptials between TD and the Lunch Lady though, I rethought sending it. A different version of it. One that wasn’t pissed or whiny or pathetic or neurotic (what? who am I?). One that pretty much just stated that although he never gave me the closure that I deserved, that I somehow found it myself. I learned that I don’t need to know ‘why’, I just need to accept. That I had let go of all the anger and resentment that I had towards him (and we all know that there was a lot) as all that negative energy was draining and serving absolutely no purpose. That I was truly embarrassed that it took me sooooo long to be able to move on. That it was easier for him as he wasn’t left with so many unanswered questions. I was writing it for my own benefit, not his. What I wanted to tell was how he pretty much destroyed my self confidence and turned me into a basket case for the better part of two years (okay, 4, but who’s counting?), but I didn’t.
I could have absolutely written a scathing message that would have reduced him to tears (he is a crier, did I ever tell you that?) but that would serve no purpose other than to make me look (and feel) like a petty mess. The draft I ended up with was well thought out, pointed out a few important thing, thanked him for teaching me much (didn’t need to specify if it was good or bad that I learned). I made sure he knew how much he hurt me and how unfair it all was but I also accepted my fair share of the blame. The thing is, although I could never look back clearly on things and always saw a skewed version, I can now. I see and remember it all. I was no angel. I wasn’t blameless. I was, however, undeserving of what transpired or how he played with my emotions.
I wished him well with the Lunch Lady (which, let’s be honest, I didn’t really mean) and for all that I learned via our relationship and the shit show that ensued. I did, of course, let him know about the letter I received, as well. I didn’t say who it was from or mention any details, but I did tell him that she had much to say regarding things that he told her (and presumably others) about me & ‘us’ and that I believed all that she told me as it ‘fit’. Much of what she told me he said about me were things that he told me about her. Nice.
I didn’t expect a response from him. And I didn’t get one. Giving me the closure I needed and doing the right thing aren’t really his strong suits. And then on day 5 after sending it, there sat a response in my filtered file that any message of his would go to so that I wouldn’t have to see it in my inbox. It was long, it was nice, it was well worded and it explained his side of things. Always his side. It confirmed what I have always thought. TD is not an awful human being. He’s just clueless and highly misogynistic. He only sees things from his vantage point, but has no clue that’s what he does. He really thinks he’s doing what’s best for everyone. Uhm, no. I remember it all now. How he truly feels a ‘white lie’, instead of being a completely victimless lie such as ‘sure, I loved the movie’ when you really didn’t is something much more self-serving. He cautioned me not to believe everything I read. That some things were said due to the ‘situation’ and in order to pacify the person he was speaking to so not to take things out of context. So, in essence, TD’s perception of a ‘white lie’ is to lie to someone about someone else so that he can pacify the person present while totally throwing the other person (me) under the bus and making them look like a fool and humiliating them. He really feels that since the 2nd person isn’t present and can’t hear what is being said about them, that it’s okay. I always had suspicions that this is what he was doing regarding me. He always denied it and I always felt like I was just being paranoid and insecure. I didn’t listen to my instincts (or ALL of you that warned me about what was going on). I get it now. 4 f*ing years later. I truly get it. It wasn’t all my fault. I wasn’t crazy. My paranoia and confusion as to why his ex wife, among others, had such issues with me and consistently accused me of using the kids to get to TD, was finally explained. They DID think that was what I was doing because while TD was stringing me along and telling me one thing, he was telling others a completely different version of reality. His reality. Which really isn’t reality at all. He always swore he wasn’t doing this. That he always had my back and was defending me. He wasn’t.
Anyway, back to his response. He basically took little responsibility for anything, explained that things said were for ‘everyone’s benefit’ and displayed a level of ‘it wasn’t me’ that would truly rival and impress any given 10 year old. He’s not a bad man. He thinks he’s doing the right thing (god I hope he does, otherwise that would make him a monster). He likes to avoid conflict and confrontation. He thinks that by telling his version of ‘white lies’, everyone is better off. He’s so misguided in this belief that I’m amazed I couldn’t/didn’t want to see it for so many years. Although I was fairly certain that all the ex girlfriend had told me was true, it was TD’s response/explanation that truly convinced me that all she wrote was true. It perfectly displayed quintessential TD; sweet and kind, while talking in circles and trying to justify the unjustafiable. Always putting his interests at the forefront but claiming to be doing it for someone else. I actually remember having discussions with him where his logic would render me speachless and I would just sit and stare as it was unfathomable to me that someone could think along these lines and think they’re doing the right thing.
He thanked me for being there for him during a really bad time in his life (why the hell does it seem like I keep ‘fixing’ these guys that are hurt by previous women so that they can dump me and move on to the next woman who gets to enjoy the shiny new repaired version?). He wished me well. While not really taking any responsibility for anything (I didn’t expect he would), he ‘explained away’ all my concerns. The thing is, I can now see that his ‘explanations’ are just excuses and always were. I think I stated before that TD is the most loyal man in the universe, but only to 1 person at a time. That person was me for a while. And then it wasn’t. It’s actually very sad that a man his age has so few ‘tools’ to deal with grown up emotions and responsibility.
Of course I spent the better part of the next 2 days re-reading old blog posts. Both a blessing and a curse to be able to do that. There were SO many good times. And then so many bad times. I did learn a lot via all of this. I learned to be more open (ish) with people. If I’m unsure of something, just ask instead of 2nd guessing everything. To be more honest with my feelings. If I would have just asked TD what the hell we were doing way back then, I could have avoided the next year of uncertainty and heartbreak. I didn’t ask, because I was afraid of the answer that I might hear. Who knows? If I would have just asked, maybe we’d be in a different place right now (not to mention back then). Maybe not, but it certainly couldn’t have turned out any worse than it did…..
Anyway, I think I’m done. I don’t think he ever truly remembered all that he did/said to me back then. I don’t think he remembers that he loved me (or at least that he told me he did). He certainly doesn’t remember later telling me that he only said that because he hadn’t met many women yet. WTF?! I truly think he believes his own lies. *sigh* That’s okay. I’ve moved on. Finally. It wasn’t my fault. I can stop blaming myself for the shit-show and downward spiral. I can look back at the fun and laughter and not be sad. Well, not that sad. I can be forever grateful that he introduced me to his amazing children and that I still get to be a however small part of their lives. I can realize that it wasn’t meant to be. That I deserve better. That I’m worth it.
Now, where the hell is my ONE!!??!!
The Life & Times of a 54 Year Old Online Dater 