That One Time I...

 ... Realized I'm Okay With Being Alone

There's a difference between lonely and alone. When you're lonely, being a fully functioning member of society isn't possible. The pain can range from irksome to life altering. Some people can live their lives yet feel like failures because society dictates they should be married with children after a certain point in life. Others let the loneliness cloud their judgment and in the most extreme cases let it consume them.

When you're alone, you still function like a normal human being. You simply do without and live your best life. That's all there is to it.

I bring this up because I'm shook, y'all.

After my mother died my father battled loneliness. I did my best to help him in the years that passed. I checked up on him in person at least one evening a week after work. I'd also call him at least once in between visits. I didn't do it for money. I felt it was the right thing to do.

Dad seemed to be doing okay in the few years that passed after Mom's death, and then one evening a woman I'll call Robin was there. They were in separate parts of the house. He was in the living room reading the newspaper or financial magazines with cable news serving as white noise in the background. She was at the kitchen table doing something on a laptop. 

He told me Robin was his live in girlfriend, yet I knew something was amiss. For a couple that's new, there would be some form of romantic interaction between them and I was getting that "roommate" vibe from her. I didn't want to step in and do anything without the facts. I took notes, shared them with my sister and then prayed for the best.

Within two years, Robin left the nest and I thought that was it. Then while helping my brother with a doctor's appointment yesterday, I was told of all the things that (allegedly) happened while I wasn't looking. Money and gold coins missing. Expensive gifts purchased. Sleeping in separate bedrooms. Cheating, which my sister discovered via love letters Robin left behind -- that my lovelorn father kept.

Then I heard the worst of the details as we waited for transportation that would never arrive. When Robin departed, it wasn't willingly. At some point, my father realized she was taking advantage of him and kicked her out of the house. Someone called the cops, and when they arrived she screamed loud and clear to them and neighbors that she would file an SA suit against him. 

Robin had no case and none was ever brought against him, but it didn't matter. The damage to my father's reputation and the theft of some of his assets was done. Allegedly.

I joked with Bert the other day that if I'm the last person standing when I die, I'd give away my estate to an animal shelter. After hearing this sordid tale about my father, perhaps I should stop joking and update my last will and testament?