EIGHT

It's Done

...and nine days later the decree came in the mail.  I'm officially divorced and my name is changed back to MY name (and I'm never changing it again).

I sat at the Social Security office in the hour-long line waiting for my number to be called and I started to cry.  The tears came and came, quietly down my cheeks.  I was surprised that I had that much emotion left, but of course I did.  I thought it would just be a relief (which it was!), but I didn't expect the tears.  The only other time I'd been there waiting in that exact waiting room was when I changed my name to my new hyphenated last name after I got married.  Three and a half years later I was changing it back.

The tears kept coming quietly all day long, and the next day I was fine.

My ex is being calm and peaceful now, like he was subconsciously waiting for the limbo to end.  Of course I expect his calm to go away sooner or later--that is his alcoholic pattern--but for now it's enjoyable to get and give a nice little hug when we exchange the dogs.


A House

Now I'm looking for a house to buy.  Starting over has begun!  Just my pets and me and our soon-to-be-new house, starting our old life back over again.