Saturday, April 5, 2008

the times of my life

Sometimes I wonder if my life will ever be different or will forever be haunted by my past, if I will ever be independent of the decisions that I made when I was naïve and didn’t know better, If one day I can sit and not think of the why. Will it just ever be a move forward, a new chapter, the old one forgotten and insignificant?

Sometimes I cry thinking of the hardships I have had to endure the past few years. They cut to the essence of my being, completely tore me apart, left me vulnerable, rock bottom.

Sometimes I imagine how things would have been different. If I would have made it big, If I would be living elsewhere, if I would have gone back home, if I would be happy?

Most times nowadays I’m amazed at how far I have come, how much I have grown, how many people have been by side, how God can do amazing things.

Most times I hate to imagine that I would be living elsewhere, not knowing the people I know now, not knowing the love that surrounds me, not being the confident woman I am.

At all times, I am thankful for the lessons learned, the friendships formed, the knowledge and experience of being downright hopeless and gaining courage to rise to a better day.

Monday, February 11, 2008

The devil is real y'all

I have resigned myself to the fact that there are things and people in this world that I will never understand, will never make sense and I will never figure out. I just haven't been able to write when I read about all the bloodshed in my beloved country and that nasty word..hacking. I will probably write about all my thoughts later. I have my devil to face close to home. Pretty strong word but pretty fitting description.

I started this blog because it reminded me that I'm free to be the person I am and not whom this person who abused me wanted to be. It lets me document how I feel and let steam out in a positive manner. It lets me tell my story so that some other person who may be in the same situation does not feel like they are alone and give hope that things can really change.

I really don't care if my ex ever finds this blog, I would present it to him if I thought it would be helpful to read all the unbelievable stuff he has put us through. He will deny this of course because in some twisted way, he doesn’t see things the same way, in fact he feels like I owe him an apology and a whole lot more.

These past 2 weekends I revived all those bitter memories of control and abuse. I have come a long way because it’s Monday and even though I may feel afraid, I don't feel powerless.

The story is so petty that even when I share it, I try not to demonize this person because he is the father of my son yet the actions and words just speak for themselves.

The story: I am attempting to fix a huge dent in my car left by an accident almost 2 years ago right after my separation. I could not afford the deductible and since my car was driving fine, this was the last thing on list. I am finally able to put this on my list and get this done. I had the insurance company write the check, I got the fabulous rental car and then some part of hell broke loose.

My ex called me bright and early demanding to know why he was not informed that I was fixing my car, in a check written out in his name. Now, he was the insured, I was the driver and now sole owner of the car. The check written out to the body shop, myself and the ex.

Apparently he had called the insurance company and ‘talked’ to the agent handling my case, called the body shop and gave an earful to the owner claiming he would sue him for fraud if he cashed the check.

My ex gave me an earful and I decided to listen and even apologize(this was low). He agreed to sign the check after he had prayed about this ‘issue’ numerous times and even presented it to his bible study group. Makes me wonder if there is some cult business going on somewhere….

After a whole lot of stuff that I didn’t need to hear, he agreed to sign the check, I took it to his house. He met me outside with a bible in hand. He opened the car door and sat next to me in the passenger seat. I would have preferred another arrangement like sign the check through the window and a goodbye. He read some bible verses, one being not repaying evil with evil. According to him, I went behind his back on this ‘issue’, got the check issued and now was using him to help myself. God!!!!!!! He eventually signed the check, but he made the conclusion that I was not ‘getting it’. By this point, I’m pretty sure my blood pressure was dangerously high because I fear this him even though I try to act cool. So when he made the sudden move to reach for his phone, I grabbed my phone and jumped out of the car. This was just his breaking point. He went crazy claiming I was using him and that I just wanted to call the cops and was acting scared just to put him in trouble. He called his prayer partner…yes, true it is and explained how I was using him. I was not getting how I had deceived him so he took he check back claiming he wanted to sign the date on it…why?? Well, only in my weirdest imagination would I have thought that he was going to cross his name out, throw the check back at me and walk away. Yes, he crossed his name out, threw the check at me and walked away. Disbelief, anger, regret, fear, all the emotions I felt in this moment.. Only my faith in God rescued me from sinking deep into an abyss of despair.That man was walking back to take care of my son. I sped out of there shaken and in a complete vaccum.

The smirk on his face was like staring at the devil. I've been here before. It doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. So to summarize this bizarre incident, the ex has gone completely out of his way to make sure I don’t get my car fixed, he doesn’t benefit in the least type of way and neither do I except my car will look and function better but is still willing to harass a number of people and use the bible to 'teach' me a lesson. So in his perfect world, I should have called him when I decided to fix my car, inform him of all my plans, invite him to dinner and ask him politely to sign the check. hmmph. I cannot believe I am spending this amount of time on some BS like this. I will update as I have the strength.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Sad Sad Sad

I have been trying to write a post several times and each time I can't put into words the horror that is happening in my beloved country. I am blessed because I have called my family on a daily basis sometimes more than once a day to find out how things are and if they are ok. They are ok, but we have scores of relatives, friends and people that are not. It was my b-day yesterday and I was glued to the screen trying to figure out what was going on. In the past week I have thought about the lives of those suffering, those killed, it really breaks my heart in so many ways. The stories of mothers watching their kids burn, their husbands hacked. How are these individuals ever supposed to recover with nowhere to start, no support whatsoever?? I refrain from discussing the political situation. I really just emphathise with the everyday common man/woman who has and will suffer just so tremendously. It's senseless, its brutal, lacking in thought, full of self-hatred....the story below was just too much.
http://kenyanemergency.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/we-told-them-to-come-out-of-the-church-but-they-locked-the-door-so-we-burned-them/

I just don't know anymore.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

some niceness..

I met a nice person yesterday, for lack of a better description. I just haven’t ran into a complete stranger who responded like this person did. Scene: the bathroom. My son had bumped into another kid at the birthday party and was bleeding from digging his tooth on his lip. He was in shock because he could see all the blood coming out and he kept spitting saliva and blood. So I was trying to be comforting in the bathroom, ignoring other users and trying to clean up my son’s mouth making sure he did not have a more serious injury. This lady, while washing her hands, noted my predicament and offered to get some ice if I needed it. A minute later she was back with a cup of ice and she had asked the restaurant staff for a waterproof cloth so I could put the ice in it. I was happy that someone had been so thoughtful and it helped ease my son’s pain and bleeding. She actually stood with me for the next 5 or so minutes in the bathroom, getting tissues and waiting for the bleeding to subside. She was so helpful and so good at reassuring my son that he would be ok. After my son was feeling better she introduced herself and happened to be one of the host’s friends. I had seen her earlier but she was sited at a different table, she also asked if we would join them since they now had more space at their table. If you have been to one of these parties, you know they can be pretty hectic, loud and full of hyperactive kids.
What I thought would be just another birthday party for my son to enjoy turned out to be quite the enjoyable evening for all where I met some pretty cool people. The lady at the bathroom; she works with kids, counseling, what a fitting career! Even more, the group I met attends a church that I have been contemplating visiting and now I will.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

my truth

The journey toward our beauty is a magnificent struggle. Achieving an integrity between what we believe and how we live is a challenge worthy of the gift of life. A thousand obstacles stand between our selves and the honoring of our truth. A thousand distractions. A thousand ego-generated delusions. The quality of our life depends on how we confront those obstacles. That is what Joseph Campbell described as the hero's journey -- the journey towards our greater self. That journey takes so much courage. That journey fascinates me. To dive down, find the beauty, nurture it and offer it to the world is magnificent. The more unique what you have to offer is, the more indifferent the world is likely to be for a long, long time. Staying with your beauty, your truth, your integrity is difficult, but out of these things comes meaning, and meaning is all-transcendent.
– Rod MacIver, HERON DANCE Journal
Notes, Issue 19

I'm pondering the thoughts above, because in the past years and at present I have had to examine what I really believe in and balance it with how I really live. I'm disappointed sometimes at how hard it is to find this balance. That I believe strongly in a lot of things that I don't execute or don't execute to the degree that I consider necessary. I really want my actions to match my faith. And why is it so difficult to do what I really want to do? I think Paul in the Bible had the same dilemma. My dilemma is that I'm still weeding out trying to differentiate and redefine my truth, not according to my family or my religious upbringing but coming from a place where I understand who I am, why I do what I do and embracing that with pure clarity to free my movement forward.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

some bs is going on

How can one day start so filled with love and crash with a midday email so reminiscent of hate? Why do both good and bad have to coexist? The hell with balance and all the nature laws. Someone is trying to fuck with me and fuck with my future and I'm pissed!I have tried to be patient, no as a matter of fact I have been very patient. I thought I had already won the battle but in a manner that can just be described as plain malicious, they are always trying to find a way to get to me and if that wasn't enough play it off like they are a friend and (drum roll)...fellow christian!! I have had enough of this BS. I just needed to vent. Thats all. I think I'm going to be ok.

I feel loved

A thousand words could never express
this feeling
this comfort
this assurance

You have changed my world in excess
of my imagination
my expectations
my dreams

I cherish the friendship we possess
that nurtures
that’s honest
that’s real

So I’m writing to confess
my love
my happiness
my contentment

when I’m with you and even
when you’re not near

I feel absolutely loved