My Friend and his Family

When my friend and his family took me in, I didn't realize it at the time, but I was damaged.

I had just had a relationship breakup which tore me up badly. This led to dealing with other emotional issues from my past. On top of this, I was being forced out of my apartment downtown. I was a mess.

So often during this time, I felt like I was somebody else. Often, I felt weak and hopeless. Depression was with me everyday.

My friend lives in Monford Heights. I know him well, but not really his family. In the weeks ahead, I would come to know his three sons, his daughter and his wife. In a way, they would become my new family.

It felt good to get a good night’s sleep again. My friend and his family always made sure I was eating regularly. They looked out for me. They wanted me to be safe. They wanted me to get better.

I usually get up early in the morning. First thing, I would go outside to their backyard, sometimes with a cup of coffee, and check out what the weather was going to be.

Monford Heights has a lot of lakes and often geese would fly over making those honking noises that geese make. I loved looking up at the sky and watching them. It was comforting somehow.

I stayed almost two months with my friend and his family. Now feeling stronger and more like myself, I’ve gone back to the independence that I now know I’ve missed. I’m on my own again.

What my friend and his family did for me will never be forgotten. They hung with me when I needed friends the most. That's one of the reasons why I love them. I want them to know that.

- Larry Gross

(Photo from Jupiter Images)

Comments

[Karen]

The main thing is that you're getting better :)

[Tom]

Affairs of the heart, especially when it goes bad, can bring a person down quick and depression can lead to more serious issues. I'm glad your friend and his family could see this.

[Gregory Flannery]

Monfort Heights (please note the correct spelling) is no Mount Airy, but it has its own charms — including you, while you were here.

[Cincy Reality Check]

Isn't it interesting how we can't see how messed up we are when we're in the midst of it and it's so obvious to others? We even get annoyed and try to shake off the "others" when they try to care, catch us BEFORE we fall and help us off our ass in spite of our resentment and bad attitudes because we're "Fine!"

Getting through is usually less painful and expedited by the support and help others offer. When we get to the other side, we can see how those annoyances are actually kindnesses we can't begin to repay.

But the “repayment” is simple - it's this. An acknowledgment of what was, is and the things we learn as a result. If we're fortunate enough to pass it along by helping another in some small way, that's interest on top of the repayment.

This is “helping” too. Thanks for the reminder, Larry!

[Theresa]

I know it's not possible to always be serious, but this blog is better when it's more like your columns.

You put up a good one today.

[Connie]

I want to echo in on what Theresa is saying.

I read the LOL column all the time mainly when Larry Gross writes. I check out this website a few times a week because it's not as good as the column. The stuff yesterday about the snack cakes was just stupid. Today we find something smart.

Maybe Gross should write more here and get rid of people like Tom Anus. I must agree that being more serious is better.

[Jim]

"A little nonsense, now and then, cherished by the wisest men."

[Peter Deane]

I agree with Reality Check. I like it too when Living Out Loud is from the heart not from the nonsence. We get enough of that in Cincinnati.

You know I recently went through a divorce. It's a roller coaster and trying to live on your own can sure add to it and can be lonely at times. Talk about writers block!

Someone mentioned to me the other day. A writer in the family tends to split it open. It's a serch for truth and meaning not only of your own will but the wills of others. In the end you know the chips are going to land sooner or later and after they do you always walk away or stay knowing that the story continues somewhere.

I look at it this way. After the chips are dropped, face up or down, the writer in the family picks up those chips and begins handing them out again to wherever he goes or wherever he remains and it is just a matter of time until he splits everyone open again. It's just the way we are, Larry. Searchers of truth on who we are in relationship to those in our lives -- good or bad, it all must be known to everyone involved.

Anyway, good luck! And if you ever fall on hard times again I have an extra room -- no back yard but it has a nice veiw. Oh and I make a hellova good soup.