Thanks, Robin! <3

Wow, Kim, that makes me feel awesome. :) Love you!

Thanks, Karl. :)

People can be very greedy, and often those with the most to give are the greediest. It's unfortunate. I'm broke as can be, but when I see a homeless person, I know I have more than they do, and I WANT to give something, even if it's just a cold drink or lunch or a warm blanket in the winter...whatever I can spare. I don't understand people who don't feel the need to help people in need.

I don't understand the lack of empathy...hasn't nearly everyone ever fallen on hard times? How else do we get through those times and get back on our feet, but through help from others? So why, when we are on our feet, shouldn't we reach out to someone else? It's easier to hide behind prejudice, so that's what many do.

Very good point, Trish!

Yes-so many just think "Oh! Reduced taxes! Yay!" and fail to see the big picture, the motivation behind these measures, and the future cost of them.

I replied and my comment got eaten. :(

Me too. And I'll totally threaten him with a Beth Beatdown if he gets on the wrong side of me. *grin*

That's where I'm at too. It's funny, because when you say you have 'trust issues' people assume you mean a jealousy issue, and it's not the same. At. All.

We learn from our experiences, and when our experiences tell us that we can't depend on anyone but ourselves, it creates that panic reaction to *having* to depend on someone. It's hard. I'm thankful that he understands this response in me and instead of getting frustrated with my self-soothing mechanisms like obsessively going over the bills and the budget, and my outbursts of tears when we talk about money, he just acknowledges my fears, tells me he understands why i feel that way, and reassures me. A couple days ago he told me, "You've never given me this much trust before. I won't screw it up." I realized that he's mostly right. I have to learn how to trust, and he has to learn how to follow through. And so far, both of us are making strides.