Divorce Is Always Difficult
As of today, I have known Rachel for 16 years and 16 days. My first recollection of her was when I was quietly trying to find the bathrooms at the office. I looked up and there she was, pointing my way.
Even before meeting her here, our paths had crossed at a little junior high school in Post Texas. We both attended middle school there at different times.
Rachel has pointed out my way several times. She brought out my weirdness. She is the one that never flinches when I whip out a skull or a dead dolls head to craft with. Rachel gets me. She is the only one that I ever considered entering The Amazing Race with, much to Camille's chagrin. We have different strengths and weaknesses and we KNOW that. That is what makes us so crazy good. She has been my cheerleader. We have traveled together. We have been comfortable in silence together. She helped me set up my first email address. She was the one that introducted me to blogging. She has photographed me with a camel. How many people have photographed YOU with a camel?
Then on a hot summers day, she quietly sent me a note telling me that she wanted to separate. I was flabbergasted. I did not suspect a thing! I figured she was just going through the middle age crazies and humored her. I thought to myself *if you love something let it go.....*
Well, it ain't coming back.
She has already packed and removed all of her things from here. Her office is empty.....nothing is on the walls and it echos when you go in there. I tell her it is empty like her soul.
She has carved out her own life without me. *sniffles* A life filled with Fridays off, windows in an office and jeans Every.Single.Flipping.Day.
How can I top that?
So, I thought it best that you hear it from me first. Let me break it to you as gently as I can.
Mine and Rachel's divorce is final today.
In the settlement, I retained custody of the tiny calculator in a briefcase, and the jogging in a jug recipe.
Funny thing is.....it lasted longer than the two marriages I had to the Ex.
I have never ever hugged her.
...to Rachel! I am so happy for you and I wish you all the best!! You are my friend and I am so very grateful for the time I have had with you next door to me.
Oh my gosh! I don't remember the bathroom bit, but glad I was able to provide that very important service.
ReplyDeleteWe are a perfect pair - all yen and yang and crap like that. I like how we tend to come from opposite sides of the fence to both arrive at exactly the same conclusion. That must mean we are right, dontcha think?
You were not even actually present for my first memory of you. Right after they made the decision to hire you, we were giving M2 the third degree about it. She said, with no little trepidation, that you looked like a "party girl". :D
16 years...dang. We've lasted longer than my marriage, too!
Mindy, I adore you.
ReplyDeleteThat is all :)
Rach that is too funny since I had never been IN a bar before coming to work here. Also, you and Marty were there when I had my first drink with alcohol!!
ReplyDeleteOh Nicole....I adore you too.
ReplyDeleteSniff, sniff, this just makes me want to cry. Won't y'all at least see each other occasionally?
ReplyDeleteYou should totally hug her today, or she should hug you. I hugged her the first time I met her (does that make me "easy"? Or does it make her "easy"?
Me too Diane.... dang that's a long time.... you're right, longer than most marriages.
ReplyDeleteWell Mindy, maybe you should go join her. Be worth having a window!
Party girl? Must have been the beads...... oh Lordy... who leaves a job in the middle of the week anyway?
Mindy I hope you're getting some kind of friend-a-mony from her.
Thats what I don't like about time.... it moves whether we go or not.
Love you both
xoxoxoxox
You've never hugged her? That sounds like more physical contact than my own failed marriage (#2).
ReplyDeleteYou guys have enjoyed a better run than NBC's Friends. AND were far far more entertaining to us stalking voyeurs out here.
Have you all decided on the custody arrangements of all of us'ns?
Lori VC (aka: a bunch-a-other names)
I remember that Cade wanted to go live with Rachel. She should of taken him up on that back then. I will miss her being in the office. I am glad she got a stellar new job, but I already miss her.
ReplyDeleteDivorce is a tough thing to go through. It creates drama and stress. It is great to have outstanding blogs like this to read to keep my sanity.
ReplyDeleteshe's a keeper. If someone brings out your weirdness, it's a gift!
ReplyDelete