Aw @Former-Member
Your girl's 21st birthday - rough day - extra rough birthday - I found my son's 21st to be rough and tough - and now - in a few weeks - he would be turning 49 - time does pass - in retrospect - the years fly by - I get how this hurts - I know it myself -
btw - these toxic sibs - I have two of them and have no thought to have either of them in my life - I guess I will see one of them at family funerals - that one can't help herself - the whole ceremony couldn't take place without her presence -
But I don't have to like her or have her like me - and I really don't think I am a bad person because I have crappy sibs - and you don't have to measure yourself beside yours either - you are your own person and don't come across as anything but a loving caring person to me - or anyone here I am positive
Tough living alone at times - I get that - and if you are in your Dad's house the memories must be harder to deal with - I really detested going to my parents' place in my more mature years - to much stuff that was controlling - I get it - but there is worse stuff in that house where you are -
About seeing an old friend and wondering about the food - yes - ask what the plan is. There's nothing wrong with sorting that out in advance - and you are on a limited diet for your health - worth taking your own food with you - my grand-daughter is vegan and the whole family accepts that she brings her own food with her and I agree with her choice - it's for her health - if it wasn't my enjoyment of animal protein I could be vegan - I love vegies - so yeah
Stick to your guns to be different - to be independent - to have your choices - if you are taking your own food to a gathering you need not pay for anyone else's I am sure - I will be interested to hear what other people say here,
That birthday is going to be a hard date - no way around that - seeing an old friend is a good idea - reminding them of the significance of the date could be awkward - um - think about whether to mention it
It's tough Lapses - I know that - and you are uncertain about this new life you have - and that is natural - it will take a while for you to adapt to all the culture shock but it will pass - I can promise you that
You will always miss your daughter - she will always be with you in a special way though - she will always be young and beautiful in ways the rest of us cannot be - the years will not change her - I always think my son will always have acne but never wrinkles - I think of an aunt who died very young as still being very young though she would be over 100 now.
But as the years pass the loss stays but life because easier - I reckon I get by most of the time - 360 days of the year are ups-and-downsy - but they are livable - some are brillliant - others dreary - but the other 5 - nightmares - days I would rather not have. Perhaps this will always be the case
But I do care Lapses - I know the Black Dog is around but taking time for a holiday here and there is always a good thing - right now I can't go away - to much happening here - but I am still enjoying my last holiday and planning the next
Cya sis - Dec