I really thought he was a troll that followed you from another page until I saw the last name, which is when I PM'ed you. If that's what he considers humor, well…

Thing is, I can hear his voice saying this stuff, and it isn't without what passes for affection in our family. Twenty years ago.

My thought when he said he didn't like me was "he's missing out, I'm eminently likeable."

One of the things I didn't say that I discarded right along with "he's my brother, he's allowed to talk to me like that" was "she's my friend and she's as fierce as Diana, and if I have to choose, I will choose her". I'm sorry, I have not yet mastered how to navigate these waters. I am out of my depth.

If that guy doesn't like you... You must be awesome!

Andi is a Wonder Woman to me. I've often felt therapiized by her wise words, even when she is not talking to me.

Once upon a time, our friend Ginger did a Facebook intervention for me that was a lot like this one.

She calmly posted a reasonable question, the comment was immediately deleted, and the air in Virginia turned pretty colors with the ranting about my rude friends.

I never came here and thanked her for standing up for me. I was too embarassed. So II will say it anyway in the presence of her friends... Thank you very much. What you did meant the world to me.

Funny how family take it as such a right to treat us like dirt that anyone advocating for us is the bad guy.

Thank you, beloveds. Thank you for your support when I doubt myself. Thank you for showing me when I deserve better than what I or my relatives give me. Thank you for understanding my frailty.

Maybe I'm not weak and too oversensitive.

Nope, nope, nope. You're not.

You're a wonderful, insightful, funny person, and I'm incredibly glad that I get to read your words.

Oh, Andi, you are so valued here. I wish your bio-family saw in you what we see in you. Sending you lots of love and support through the intertubes, which you very, very much deserve.

And protecting your precious self however you need to is the most important thing you can do.

This!

Blood ~ma to Zen, house ~ma to Scrappy, and wishing your mom all the best surgery ~ma, Steph. And a cluestick to your relatives.

Sending out the ~ma for your mom, Steph. And some for your anxiety levels.

Thinking of your mom today, Steph. Hope everything goes smoothly.

She went back to the OR about 2 hours ago, and we probably won't hear anything for at least another 3 hours. So now I'm wondering if I can go take a nap in my car.

Hospitals ought too have nap facilities for situations like that. You have to get to the hospital at 6AM, you probably didn't sleep well the night before, you're stressed, and now you have nothing to do but sit in the OR and wait.

Fingers crossed that all goes well, Steph.

Andi, there's a difference between being oversensitive and just being sensitive. The latter is what lets you be aware of your charges' needs and do what's best for their wellbeing, what lets you look out for your co-workers and try to help them be better, what lets you brighten up the day of all the people who interact with you. Being a caring person may open you up to feeling hurt when others are rude or inconsiderate, but it is by far more a strength than a weakness.