Well, I spoke to Celeste.
I was in the bathroom at church, all by myself, brushing my hair between worship and Sunday school. She came in and I turned and saw her and said "Well, hello there." She stopped in her tracks and said "Are we still friends?" and then burst into tears. I said "How long have we been friends?" and she said "I just didn't know, I haven't heard from you in so long!" I said "Well, I have to say, I've been pretty upset and I had a lot to work through. But now that things seem to be settling down, what it all comes down to is that we have two groups now, which isn't a bad thing. And you know that I've not been real happy with the support group for a long time and for the first time I'm excited about what I'm doing."
Then she told me people had said some pretty awful things about her and I said "People are pretty unhappy." She nodded and I told her "I want you to know that I'm over information for BA CHEF and I don't allow anyone to say anything bad about anyone on either side of this issue, at least in the areas I can control."
Then I asked how her son was (Matthew's friend, he's been sick). Some light chitchat about that and then I went to my class.
I was amazingly calm. I felt strong. I didn't shed a tear. You note that I didn't castigate her, but neither did I absolve her. She did wrong, in my opinion and until she is repentant and asks forgiveness, we'll never have the friendship we had before. But at least now I believe I can handle seeing her in the hall at church and when I drop off and pick up Matthew at Latin.
I'm just amazed at how calm I felt. Normally I'm anti-confrontational...I avoid confrontation if I can help it. But this time I was absolutely at peace.
Sounds like it was a good, much needed conversation.
Here's some trail ride pics from today, we got back a little while ago and we're pooped! (pics)
Well...it's a first step. That counts for something!
Good for you, 2J. You did well.