However, THIS family has an adult daughter who is just now working through how to even acknowledge that it might not be unsafe to have needs.

That's quite an emotional tightrope to walk. Good luck and hang the hell on. You can do this. You are a therapy badass.

I suggest using an affirmation script of what you need to remember spoken aloud or written down, often. E.g., "Mom is just another adult. It's right and good to put myself first. Mom's immediate needs come first FOR NOW due to circumstances, just like any other adult I might be taking care of. I owe her nothing more than the physical care I've promised to give and the kindness I'd show to any other adult in need." (I tell my scripts to myself in the mirror; I imagine that as a way to talk directly to my subconscious. YMMV)

So! I just got back from yet another doctor appointment, wherein they drew blood from both arms because the left arm veins shut down and crawled away after the first vial... of twelve. They're checking everything: CBC, hemoglobin/iron, B12, folic acid, clotting factors, stuff I never heard of before. They want to make sure it's safe for me not to be taking any blood thinners. Which I think it is, but it's good to know all this for sure. I joked with the doctor that once they took all this blood, I'd be anemic again. He laughed and prescribed a hamburger.

Also, official confirmation that my blood type is O-. The BEST blood type.

Sadly, this appointment caused me to miss the Very Important Quarterly Meeting at work. Alas. Weeping.

left arm veins shut down and crawled away after the first vial... of twelve.

Yikes! I really wish that they could come up with a better way to do this. Come on Scientists! Get on it.

Zen, you need to KEEP your blood after your most recent hospital trip! 12 vials seems way overboard. Sheesh.

Zen is wise. But hopefully not a quart low.

Also, official confirmation that my blood type is O-. The BEST blood type.

In case we didn't already want to hang with you in case of apocalypse!

Yeah, I just went to a Fury Road place.

Misread that as Furry Road. Which, given today is mildly diverting.

Zen are you sure they didn't just pirate a donation from your best blood type, one teeny weeny vial at a time?

Also my insincerest condolences on missing your Very Important Meeting.

Oh, I'm sending all of you so much love. I've been in a place too, and turtling a bit.

possibly stopping around Harrisburg, PA

Laura, if you do this, you will be in my neck of the woods--as in 10 minutes from my house. Profile addy is good if you want to discuss timing.

Lots of love to everyone.

It can be very...trying...and also eye opening living with Mom and seeing her interact with my nephew. There are time when I have to remind myself that I'm reacting from my past and not really on his reactions or needs.

And then there are others where I want to scream "he's hiding under the covers trying to get away just let him alone. You do not need to pick him apart to figure out why hes sad. Let him be sad!" Or whatever.

I got a Library card at the Hendersonville library . Partly because they have Hoopla which has tons of stuff digitally including comics. But you can only check out 3 items a month. Which is limiting.

But they have a decent looking sci Fi and fantasy selection in the library. Although I don't get their shelving . Sci Fi and fantasy are shelved separately (with mysteries in between) and so!email graphic novels are in fantasy.

Love to everyone and ~ma as needed.

Man, I am flipping exhausted. Monday was non-stop from 7am to 8:45 pm and then I had to deal with clingy dude. Yesterday, the same (except no clingy dude, yay). Today was 7 am to 7 pm. And I am way behind on personal and business stuff. I have business plan to write, a car to buy, budgeting to catch up on, etc. At least I don't have a princess to kill and Guilder to frame for it?

Also, my roommate went out of town last week and was supposed to be back two days ago. No word, no sign of him. I'm clearly a horrible person because I'm kind of hoping he's dead. In the meantime I'm enjoying the place all to myself.