
I’ve been thinking tonight, listening to music and sitting on my deck with a glass of wine. I’ve noticed that lately I look at people differently. My experience has changed so much, and I just don’t see them as I used to. I watch couples walking, and I don’t even know how to explain what I feel, except to say that I have no desire to be with a man any longer.
I was in the garden center yesterday, and saw two women together, picking out baby plants, getting ready to plant their garden. They had a child with them, and it just seemed so normal to me.
One of the things I have really been exploring lately, is my relationship with women. I have always had such a tight bond with women, and my relationships with men have always been lacking in comparison.
I have had sex with men, but it has, and still is women that I have the strong bond with. The connection that takes your breath away. This is so powerful for me. To realize all along that I have received my emotional meals from women, even when I was in such deep denial about my self.
The thing that struck me so poignantly at the garden center yesterday, about the women I mentioned, was that I was also there, with a woman, and a child, picking out plants to plant in our garden.
Metaphorically what does it mean that my “friend” and I have elected to plant a garden together? To start with the earth, to till it, to pull the tangles out of it’s hair. To smooth the ground. To create life and plant the small seeds of our future bounty?
This is so hard. Because she and I, we work so well together. We are connected, on a soul level. She is fighting it so hard, I’m not, I’ve accepted it. I’ve also accepted that she is not the person for me, because she is not in the place I am now. I will not walk a road that is going to hurt me more than I am already hurting.
When I think about this too much, I get angry at her, because ever since that night we had together, I have been unable to really feel comfortable baring my soul to her, because there are so many unresolved feelings. It’s not safe for me. At least one thing has come to fruition with my age, is I can see that this is a situation that is not good for me, and not fall into it again. I know, at some point, I will find the woman I was meant to be with.
As much as I care for my friend, I just can’t go there again, and that saddens me. It really does, because I do care so much for her. But now is not the right time, and I’m not willing to “fix” anyone any more. I want a mature partner, who knows who she is, and what she wants.
There is a line, from the Indigo Girls song, “Blood and Fire”
“I’m looking for someone who can take as much as I give
And give back as much as I need
You know and they still have he will to live ah no
Cause I’m intense, I am in need
I am in pain, I am in love
And I feel forsaken you know
Like the things I gave away”.
I don’t want to give away pieces of my soul anymore, unless I’m giving it to that person that can meet me, in all of my intensity, and give back to me honestly.
I am intense. So much goes on in my head, and the majority of it, is not expressed to anyone except the people that read my blog. I think, no I am sure, the people in my life would be terribly surprised to learn about the real me. I’ve become a fine chameleon. I can change with the color of words. The thing is though, I really don’t change. I just look like I do. I’ve learned to blend in, to take a back seat, all the while, this intense burning fire is living inside of me.
My “friend” came the closest to bringing this out in me. She did, but I think ultimately, I was too much for her. I frightened her, I’m sure. Yesterday in the middle of our planting, I caught her looking at me with such longing. I can tell, she is like me, maybe too much so. She is a lesbian, for as much as she claims she is straight. I wish I could tell her, in a way she would listen to me, that she is making a mistake by not accepting this now. I’ve made this mistake, and now I’m fighting for my life, and the life of my kids in a situation that I really don’t want to be in, but I don’t know how, or if I even should extract myself.
I am beginning to see my marriage struggling as well. I’m not sure if my husband sees it, but I do. I don’t feel connected to him any longer, I love him, but I don’t feel that soul connection, and besides our kids, there is very little we really have in common. I’m not ready to deal with this right now, but it is coming, be it in 5 months, or 5 years. That will depend on when I feel like it will be the right time for my kids, if there is any such thing. He doesn’t know me. It’s that simple, and I don’t believe he really wants to know me. He sees my surface. He is kind to me, and I know he loves me. This is not an intolerable marriage, but it is a marriage that is crumbling all the same.
I expect too much. I give too much. But I know there is someone out there, who wants what I want. Who wants to be able to give generously, and take when they need too. Who doesn’t want to play mind games, but really just wants to move on to a higher level of understanding. Who loves intensely.
A person who is passionate. Who loves to make love, really make love. A person who feels a deep need in herself to satisfy me as much as I want to satisfy her. A person who would happily spend Sundays in bed listening to the rain and sharing our dreams.
Thanks for reading,
Peace,
OC
I could cry reading your words, OC. You sound so much like me and that longing for that partner in Life is intense when one knows what could be had with another, no matter what your sexual orientation.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a word of 'unsolicited' advice (please don't read me wrong at all), don't permit this conflict, like that I lived with for so many years in my life, bring you to breaking point like it did me. Sure, in the wake of the events certain truths came out between my husband and I, but here I am still unable to make any jumps or changes in my life. My marriage long ago became a mere economic arrangement--perhaps more like marriages in history once were.
I ask myself many of the same questions you pose to yourself here: Are my expectations just way too high? How dare I expect to find all I need in one sole partner? Why do I have to live in such constant conflict--he is a decent person; we are just not compatible. Or is this lack of compatibility my creation?
The picture is beautiful, and I really loved your imagery of working from the ground up. Getting my earth between my fingernails has brought me such peace in recent years--I call it my God Time. With your friend, take it one day at a time.
You are both in a dark cave, unable to see the light at the end yet. Hand in hand, you can trust each other to get to that end. Whether in the end you will come out together or not is yet to be seen, but you can draw on the strength of each other to keep you going, you can develop that faith to follow when you must follow and the confidence to lead when it is your turn.
But you will come out, and as soon as that light becomes visible you will realize how much worth each step of the journey has had.
Be well, OC.
OC- I think you should think about finding a counselor or therapist there to talk to. The circumstances of your life do involve others and what you are trying to do is difficult. Those around you (friends and family) have investments in your decisions and so their advice will be influenced by that.
ReplyDeleteUltimately you have to reach your own decisions but a therapist could help you.
Until you really come to terms with some of these things (a lifelong process) or until you really are in a position of being available i.e. "not married", I don't think you'll meet the kind of person you want to be with. That person that is available to you and not someone who is struggling with what to do with their lives or about their sexuality.
with concern for you-
janet
It seems to me like you may be getting closer to living the life you desire. I think I am sensing a growing frustration. You will get there OC. Your words here were very powerful. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteYou've been tagged. Have some fun with it!
ReplyDeleteJust checking in to make sure you are well...
ReplyDeleteHey, lady! Boy this post so resonates with me. I, too, had ALL of my needs taken care of by women friends, and I just "stepped out" to have sex with men. It was like I could only connect with a man in bed. Vertical, it was like being with an alien. Too bad it only took me 45 years to realize why!
ReplyDeleteYour journey will take you where you need to be. I SO understand having to put others before yourself right now, and not wanting to hurt someone who is not your soul mate, but IS someone you do love.
Love has so many folds and nuances. We try to reduce it to just "friendship" type love or "sex" type love, but wow, how many thousands of shades and hues of color does love have? At least as many people as there are in the world right now.
The right one for you will come along, and I bet it will be when you have accepted your life as it is in any given moment, and you are at peace with that. I have found when I am at peace with myself, regardless of all the various conditions that are storming around me, that is when just what I need shows up, and everything falls into place so easily it takes your breath away.
I am confident that will happen for you, too!
Many blessings on this journey!
GG
WOW OC this is a great post. I really feel like I know you much more. Many of the things that you said resonated with me the longing and the love. Sounds like you are searching for more than what you currently have. And not willing to settle for less. Good for you, you deserve it. I agree with Janet to find a GOOD therapist and process through this with someone that is trained and can objectively talk to you and challenge you. When L and I broke up, I saw a grief counselor and that was a good perspective for me to look from. That I had lost something I was grieving for it and then finding out who am I now, through that experience. It took time. It took commitment on my part to delve into things I didn't want to look at...I am glad for you that you have found this community to talk to and find peace in writing your thoughts and feelings out to the world.
ReplyDeletelesbianlife