A Steemit Original - A Lifetime of Seeking Happiness - Chapter 4 - Part 1

Memoir of a runaway girl - A true story!

Lethbridge, here we come 

Living back at my parents was very strange for me. There were rules and prying eyes everywhere. It was great for the kids since they had a huge yard and they always spoiled the kids. That was something I enjoyed, since I could not give them all the things I wanted them to be able to have.    

There were good points to it too though. My parents loved having the kids around more, and it gave me a chance to spend some time with my dad.  This was not going to be a rushed visit this time.  

Dad always had a bench swing in the backyard. He would often go out and just swing by himself.  Now I was able to join him on the swing and just chitchat about things. It was nice to have the chance to socialize with him.  Dad was never a deep man to talk about his feelings openly; not that it mattered. Sometimes just hanging out with someone is all you need to share a golden moment in time and space.

    

Our conversations usually went into things about the kids, work, his boat, his work, very mundane subjects, but it was still fun.  I really appreciated the time we spent together and I think he did too.  Dad filled me in about different people in the old neighborhood, who moved, who died, etc. I was starting to feel that any tensions between us was all being lifted.

We got onto the subject of death for some strange reason.    

I said, “When it is time for me to go, take me from where I die, cremate me, and that’s it.”  

Dad agreed with me and then replied, “I don’t need a bunch of people gawking at me either after I’m dead.  I do not want a funeral with a bunch of fake people pretending they cared about me. I have been to funerals and I see the way they go. I don’t want that either.”

  

That was something significant that we had in common. Strange how the world and circumstances could set us so far apart, yet the way we wanted to die, was the same.   

I loved the fact that we had that special conversation. Here was my dad confiding in me about such a personal issue.  If I had not moved back in with my parents, would that have happened?  My time living back at home did have its good points. It was also nice joking with Mom in the kitchen, helping her cook a d cleaning the dishes, that sort of thing. My mom and I would go grocery shopping together and she introduced me to her coffee friends who were eager to meet me.  We had plenty of laughs around the house and life was good.  Even though things were pleasant for the first bit, I could not help but still feel I was intruding on them. 

Here I was a grown woman with two children, and I was living at my parent’s house. It didn't seem right, and I think the whole idea must have felt funny to them as well.    

I had to find a home for us and fast. While the kids did not seem to mind, the living situation and having their grandparents around, it still did not make the situation right.  

I started looking for work and a place to live.  I had to start making appropriate arrangements.  In the meantime, that guy I went for dinner with while living in Edmonton found out I was at my parent’s house and called the house. This brought about an unexpected situation. My mom had answered the phone and with a very strange concerned look, she handed the phone to me.  My mom obviously did not recognize the voice.  

Rather than allowing her to take my call out of context, I immediately headed to the back bedroom to get some privacy. 

 

He wanted to take me to see a Ballet which was an innocent request. Naturally, my mother found a way to eves drop on my conversation. Big mistake, she heard only one side of it and came to her own conclusions. Mom asked me a half dozen questions and I had to explain that we were just friends. I was not going to the see a Ballet with him, and she should let it go. But she could only see what she wanted. In her mind, I was now seeing a married man. It took a lot of talking to convince her otherwise. 

It did not take me long to find a small two bedroom apartment across town.  My parents helped me move in. Once my furniture was in place, it quickly became cramped. However, it would work for the time being. It was time for me to stop feeling sorry for myself, get a job, and get my life back on track.    

Tony and I were writing each other quite often but I was feeling that it was doing nothing more than making us both feel miserable. Therefore, I had to lay it out for him. It was going to be Tanya or myself, and I would not spend another moment stewing about it. I needed to get on with my life. If my life was to include Tony then it had to be something that was long term. 

No more coming and going.  

Next thing I knew, he was at my door. He had quit his job on an instant, packed his bags, and drove to Lethbridge. He said I scared him into thinking that he was going to lose me forever and it was like a light bulb that went off in his head. So here he was, asking me to take him back. I agreed, but I made it clear to him that the next time he left, there would be no more chances. I understood that he was young and conflicted about us being together, but I just could not go through this again. 

   

He got another security job in Lethbridge, but he was not terribly happy with it since Lethbridge companies paid security officers much less than in Edmonton. However, we made the money work the best we could.  In addition, I had initially thought that living on the opposite side of town might somehow limit my visits with my mom and dad. I figured I would only see them when we would drive over there. However, that was not the case, as Mom always found a reason to be on our end of town and would drop by without calling.    

Please understand, we had one rule about visitors. If you come over unannounced, you will not be invited inside. However, this was my mom, how could I say no to her? Don’t get me wrong, I loved my mom dearly. I also knew how my family felt about Tony and all the antics throughout my life. It was better that I just learn to deal with these little inconveniences.    

The kids were enrolled in school and Tony and we started a BBS of our own. It was becoming very popular. Unfortunately, it wasn't making us any money.    

However, we decided to rent the Recreation Hall on a Saturday night and throw a huge party and get together for all the people on our BBS. 

   

We sold tickets to cover the cost of the hall rental, beer, food, and DJ. We had about fifty people come out for this event. I learned a lot about getting a liquor license and food safety from this event. We had a blast and it went off without a hitch. Even my brother and his girlfriend came to it. Of course, we did not charge them, and of course, my brother downed the beer fast.  

This was when we got our first taste of running a small business and we enjoyed it.  

Things were not working out too well living in Lethbridge. Tony was not happy with his job, and I could not find work. I found myself thinking about Edmonton all the time. I really did not think I belonged in Lethbridge anymore. This was they very place I ran away from at such a young age. Obviously, there were reasons why I ran away before, maybe it was truly for the better. It did not feel right returning to Lethbridge, I just simply had to think things out again. 

Thank you all for your continued support with my first novel.

Chapter 4 - Part 1  continues tomorrow. 

For those who missed the beginning, you can read it here:

https://steemit.com/writing/@feline1991/a-steemit-original-a-lifetime-of-seeking-happiness-part-1