Monday 12 June 2023

R E S P E C T


To whom this very much
 
concerns, 

I will be fine.

That's something you need to not only know but to comprehend: to fully, wholly, and in all other ways ... to know… I. will. be. fine. 

You have chosen me as your pariah, your outcast, the target of your distaste, your rage, your ire, your judgement, your inner-pain, your insecurities. You have made it more and more obvious over the years that we've known each other. 

You're spending less and less energy in attempting to hide your obvious contempt, the disgust you feel toward me. 

Deliberately manipulating events to ensure my exclusion is one thing but when you make it clear, beyond any remote chance of confusion, that your own entertainment is more important than my life, you have decided and made it known to me, to everyone involved, that you are literally willing to risk my actual life instead of making a small, relatively simple change that wouldn't negatively impact anything or anyone.

And you know what? 

I'll be fine. 

I have survived magnitudes worse than you…

and I have thrived

My “favourite” part is that, in spite of everything, you have now asked a favour of me. 

Except, we both know it’s not a favour, don't we? 

We both know there will be no reciprocity in this - or anything we share. There never has been and there never will be because you. do. not. respect me. 

I give and you take. You ask and I give and you take. You expect and I give and you take. 

And, as much as I will actually enjoy doing this most-recent “favour”, as I have every time I've performed it in the past, it will be the last “favour” I do for you. 

I accept that you do not respect me but let me make this perfectly clear here:

I. Respect. Me. 

I cannot control how you feel about me. I cannot control what you say about me. 

I control who has use of me and you ... you are not worthy of such a lofty privilege.

I am through letting you use me. I am through enabling you your blatant disrespect of me.

Sincerely, 

Over it and over you. 

Sunday 4 June 2023

A week in the life …

 Monday

An allergic (thankfully, mild!) reaction when “oat milk” unexpectedly contains pea protein. 


Gorgeous local plant life. 

“I’ll draw the monster’s head, Grandma will draw its body, and you draw the monster from the body down!”

Tuesday

Craft time: Celebrating messes. 

Hot chocolate o’clock. Firm family favourite.


With a pampering mani-pedi, it was a good afternoon, indeed!

Wednesday

Headed to the spa to be marinaded and tenderised. 

Tenderising interrupted by a team member needing emergency help. 

Thursday

Back again for a scan and the results (which came 4 hours later). 

Potentially-lethal cross-contamination / why it’s beneficial to get to lunch early. 

More gorgeous local plant life. 

Unwinding with “adult” beverages like the teenagers at heart that we are. (Glass contains Archers and lemonade.)

Any day with glitter is a good day.

Friday

Heading home today, sky matching the overall mood.

Saturday

Unfortunately, it was my turn. 

Being severely allergic to milk, choosing “vegan” menu options isn’t necessarily the best choice when you’re even more allergic to peas. Oops. (See also: Monday, above.)