January 29, 2004
Dear Paul,
After a lot of thought, I have come to a decision. I am glad that you are headed down a better path. I didn't look at it that way before, but now I realize that I have to. You are headed down a new path. Not me. It's you. Just like it has been over ten years. The same ten years that we have spent divorced. I have often worried about you and whether you were able to recover and become a better role model for our children, but as the years wore on, I realized that you are going to have to decide for yourself. The high road, or the low road. Meanwhile, I trudged forward, often short on cash and down on hope, but somehow I succeeded in providing what was needed to supply for the three of us. And thank God for the fact that he enabled me to become more successful and provide even more than I thought I would ever become capable of.
Now, over ten years later, I find that you are at a point in your life, finally, where you decide to make a change. And even though my first thought was to do everything to assist you in succeeding yourself, I have to rethink that decision.
Paul, I have struggled through some times that were so hard for the three of us, that you would never know. Times where you were no where in sight. Times where you were too busy living for you, that your children were the farthest thing from your mind. Those times you can never take back. And now, after all of those years that you spent the children's child support on yourself, I find a letter in my mailbox that says that you are now going to finally contribute to your childen's future. What do I do? I have compassion for you, a type of responsibility inside that compels me to put you ahead of my family. Why? Is that really fair?
After much thought, I realize that yes, it is fair. But only fair for you. Not to our children. If I were to send that money back to you, I would only be assisting you in stealing, spending, once again, our children's money. Money that they could use to enrich and support thier future.
So, I have decided to say no to you. No to the temptation to fold. I will instead say yes to my children. The very ones who really deserve it. I will deposit the money directly into their savings accounts, no matter how small or large the amount. It belongs to them, our children. Our beautiful chilren.
They deserve it!
__________________
Stacie
Lap
Dr. Callery
7/7/04
259/ 145/140
"We should never let our fears hold us back from pursuing hopes." John F. Kennedy 
A life without examining.....is not worth living! Soccrates
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