Yes, as you can see from the title, I’m just going to go with “Rooshie” before my sister can tell anyone about any of my childhood nicknames. Dora, I swear by God and Sonny Jesus, if you tell them what my nickname as I child was, I will unleash the fury of a brother who has never had a victory over you. Ever. There’s some pent-up wrath awaiting you if you choose poorly.
Moving on.
I have an e-mail I want you all to read. You already know what it says, but work with me here.
Hey there, stranger! How is life?
Well, I was wondering if you would be interested in doing my pictures for my wedding and how much you would charge. I hope this is still your email. Let me know what you think.
luv
The Nurse
I’ve spent a lot of time ignoring this e-mail, hoping that not replying to it was as good as telling her no. But it’s not. So I composed a reply. It took me a while to send it (literally, ten seconds ago), but I did. Here’s what I sent.
The Nurse (I actually put her name here, but you understand),
I’m not really sure how else to say this but straight out. I’m not at all comfortable with photographing your wedding.
In the past, we were good friends and I did it all because I really did care about you, not hoping for something out of it. Later, I found myself developing deeper feelings for you and I asked you if it might be possible for something to happen out of the friendship we already had. You said no, and I was fine with that. The goals you had in mind made sense and I didn’t want to stand in the way of that at all.
Three months later, you were dating Jeremy. Now you’re getting married.
To say that I wasn’t hurt by the turnaround there would be a lie. At Crystal’s wedding, I was down because of that, and it still hurts me to think about it. I wish it didn’t, but wishing doesn’t make it go away.
I honestly hope that you have been ignorant of my feelings throughout all of this. To think that a person I cared for as much as you would go and consciously hurt me as much as you have is too much for me to bear.
I don’t want you to think about this too much. I’m trying to move on and you’ve got plenty of good things to look forward to. I wish you and Jeremy the best, I really do. But as for the wedding, I’m sorry, I won’t be there.
Dariush
I don’t know what she’ll say or do… She still has a lot of power over me, far more than I’d like… I’m trying to give up on her, but when you loved someone the way I loved her, unconditionally and as a friend whom I never expected to have this happen with, it’s hard to let go. But I am. And I’m finally okay with that.
I didn’t respond to any of the comments you folks left, and I know that bothered some of you. It wasn’t that I wasn’t appreciative of your support. I am. It wasn’t that I wasn’t paying attention to your advice. I was. I just needed some time to think this through and sort it out. Each and every one of you and all my friends and family have stuck with me through all of this, and I cannot even begin to thank you. But I will try. Thank you!
In other news, today is Blog Crush Day!
Last year I totally violated the spirit of the rules and had a bunch of people on the list, simply because I 1) had so many people I enjoyed to a superlative degree and B) because I didn’t want anyone to feel hurt.
Well, I’m not doing that this year, but it doesn’t mean I love any of you any less. I’m just being selective because I’m forced to.
Bree Barton, COME ON DOWWWWWWN!
Bree is someone who found my blog in a way that I’m not sure I understand. At all. Whatever the reason behind it, she’s quickly become a favorite blogger whose only shortcoming is that she can’t write often enough for me (though I suspect that I am quite lacking in that department also). She’s literate, she uses good grammar (like an English major should) and she’s funny. Her way of story-telling generally leaves me in suspense as to what I’m going to feel at the end of the post, and often it isn’t just one emotion. I guess I just like to be surprised.
So that’s that folks. A chapter of my life coming (hopefully) to a close, a few words of admiration for a fellow blogger/writer and all is right with the world.
wow i’m so proud of you.
sincerely!
and thanks for playing today- blog crush day that is.
You did fine with that e-mail, I’m glad you got that out of the way…and don’t worry, I won’t tell your nicknames to anyone, at least I won’t unless you bug me too much.lol… You do realize however, that I am always going to use them when speaking to you right? I mean years and years of endearments are just not going to go away just because you ‘re grown up now. You are going to be my Lil Bro your whole life …sorry, you’re stuck!
As for the letter, I’m proud of you.
As for a nickname, how about MilkyButt!
You gotta do what’s best for you. Have to draw the line somewhere.
Rock on.
You done good. Yes. I meant to say it that way. So sue me.
yr email was well written, kudos for being honest without being petty.
Speaking of songs and nicknames just keep in mind… I also know them! Remember, You sister and I worked together for a long time and we filled many afternoons singing your cute little song..
But don’t worry we care too much about you to let the world enjoy what we have.
P.S. Happy about your decision …it is the right one ! good man D….
Oh my, I’d give up my secret Cajun Corn Soup recipe to hear a version of the Rooshie song. I’ll bet it was really cute!
Love the new look! I am officially jealous. :-/
nice redesign rooshie!
For some strange reason I feel the compelled to speak to you about your current situation. Although I don’t claim to have deep psychic powers, I have something better and more beneficial, I have the ability to observe people and place them into neat concise categories (regardless of how unique some individuals may think they are, in reality there are amazingly few categories for the mentally stable).
This is in no way an ‘I told you so’ speech. But I have to remind you I tried to warn you on numerous occasions in one form or another (i.e., snide comment, eye roll, instructions to run for your life, etc.). Therefore, one questions arises and I feel I obliged to ask: Why are you’re surprised by this? In the recesses of your very active mind, did you see anything but this happening? Maybe you thought it wasn’t be this soon. Maybe it was supposed to be further down the road, perhaps after you two played out all the beautiful scenarios you saw in your minds eye.
Shall I give you an example? Yes, here goes: You run to her side after yet another one of her horrific car accidents (Where did she learn to drive, by the way? Sorry I got sidetracked but the sheer number of them). However, you know she’s also called the other 80+ men she keeps on speed dial for the ‘just in case I don’t feel pretty’ times. But you get there first! Surely she will see you care above and beyond the others! You sweep her into your arms after she’s told she’ll live (and yet again escaped killing others on the road) and dash off with her (actually you push her out in a wheelchair, you are still at the hospital after all). As some Doris Day song plays from the heavens, you two skip about fulfilling your destiny. You: cure cancer, eliminate global warming, and find a car that can travel 120 miles on a stick of butter. She: Runs through the streets inviting all, “Look at me,” she announces, “I’m perfect…and I’m pretty too! Cast your gaze upon me” Now, she doesn’t dance about like a performing monkey (They have talent, after all) but she does allow all peasants in the land to bring joy into their lives by merely being in her presence. But alas, the looming end is close at hand. After all, can the world handle this super couple for long? But when you part, she floats away as on a cloud to spread her ‘–ness’ to the world (insert appropriate word here: pretty-ness, perfect-ness, obnoxious-ness, I-make-others-want-to-go-postal-ness, etc.) You expected it and feel you’ve accomplished something during your time together.
Now lets return to reality.
This person, (okay let me use the name you’ve artfully come up with) Nurse Ratchet, if you will, had other plans in her head. They go something like this…Ultimate goal: ‘x’ number of notches on her chastity belt. Her finale, as she walks down the aisle to her handsome prince, will leave masses of males are weeping. In fact, their howling greatly surpasses the angels she’s summoned to perform as her impending nuptials take place. As she passes, they grab at her dress spun from the fairies. One last look, one last smile, that’s all they ask.
In order for her twisted dream to become a reality, she spent years infecting as many males as possible with her germs. How does she accomplish this grand task? By pushing her way into their lives. I’ve seen her ask a guy for his phone and put her number into it when he didn’t move fast enough. She flirts shamelessly and without remorse. She strokes a gent’s arm as she’s telling him he’s 12 ft. tall.
This is merely part of her book of tricks. She uses them on all she encounters, like Agent Orange. Fortunately, some can see past the rapidly aging smile. When one really looks at her, sees her for what she is not what she pretends to be, she fits neater into a category than most others: One with little to no self-esteem. She builds herself up climbing on the backs of others. When she realizes someone can see through her carefully placed façade, she wisely chooses to absent herself from that one. Girls can see it easier than their male counterpart, but when they try to warn the masses (or in my case a friend that can be hurt) it is more often than not passed off as jealousy. I assure you, she moves ahead in the game she plays more coyly and stealthy than any skilled hunter. Phone calls at all hours of the evening. Hints at something she may enjoy (i.e., a movie from blockbuster, fresh baked cookies, etc) and lies in wait until she received it. When it’s presented to her as proudly as a hunter presents a freshly skinned animal, she feigns surprise that effort was made on anothers part to make her happy.
Bottom-line my friend: she knows exactly what she did. She’s done it before you were unfortunate enough to cross her path, she more likely than not doing right now. How many others is she corresponding to at this very time in her life she should only have eyes for her betrothed? My point is this (however long it was): This is where you reflect on what happened, step back from it all and look at it with an unbiased eye. Finds the clues you had in front of you but couldn’t see, and most importantly figure out what to do should another of her species is ever encountered. You allowing her the benefit of the doubt only gives her more control of you to change your mind to her way of thinking. And if I know her, she will try to do (probably with tears). Entienda?
I kinda feel like Cassandra. Remember your Greek Mythology? Gift of prophecy, no one believed her. Watch out for gifts containing home-made horses. (changed my e-mail)
I am just now seeing this post. How am I just now seeing this post? Because, as you so shrewdly noted, when it comes to getting online regularly, writing posts, etc., I SUCK.
Make me stop sucking. Make me be a better person. Make me write more. Make me be an active participant in society. Make me be like you!
Because it goes without saying that you don’t suck. In fact, you are utterly fabulous. You are always fabulous, but you earned extra fabulous points because you shouted me out. (Out-shouted me? Shout-outed me? Let’s work on coming up with a verb form of “shout out” that doesn’t make it sound like we got into a pub brawl.)
Thank you for making my night. And to think — you could have made my last two months!
[...] a nurse (who quite fortunately does very little to remind me of The Nurse), who then takes a needle to my face. I hate needles, but this one is loaded with Xylocaine, so [...]