where I'm calling from

Several months ago, I hit a rather low point in my life. I had broken up with my boyfriend, my cat became suddenly, and very expensively sick, then died, and I was diagnosed with recurrent thyroid cancer. Yay for me. Before I had broken up with that boyfriend and before I was rediagnosed, I lent him a large sum of money for his bills and a car payment. We super-novaed and he never paid me back, despite the fact his salary was exactly twice mine and well above six figures annually.

Then I got sick. Meh.

When I hit that low point, going through $4500 PET scans to see how badly my new round of cancer was attacking me, I got mad. I was mad at the injustice of illness. Mad that my ex would not leave me the hell alone (punctured car tires, anyone?) and mad that I was out eight LARGE because I had done a favor for someone who wasn't going to return it.

As a cathartic episode, I wrote out my anger and frustration, pounded it out in an email, and then shipped it to The Stranger, our weekly free rag and addressed it to the "I, Anonymous" column. I thought it was a good venue to do so since we had met through the magazine's Personals Ads.

Time passed, as it is wont to do. That was in late June, I think. I got rather wrapped up in my surgery/recovery/vacation/love episode that would soon follow and pretty much forgot about it. Also I watched a LOT of LOST. Seriously.

Imagine my surprise when I saw that my vitriolic email was printed in this week's issue. I take pride in being a good writer, so I am hoping that's what put me above the fold. But at the same time, I am not mad anymore. So I was a little embarrassed to see it out there.  I am also not surprised that my ex or one of his pals posted a link to my blog in the comments of said column. So, you're right, I guess I am not so anonymous anymore. But I am OK with that. I have a public blog and it has my picture on it. I don't really have anything to hide. Thanks for the web traffic??

And for those of you who are interested and don't want to read back over the past few months (though what blogger doesn't want increased readership?), here's where we are:

• I did adopt a new kitten from the humane society. Her name is Figgy and I adore her. She keeps me safe and happy as she is trained in ninja arts.
• I never did get the $800 back and decided to not pursue the case in small claims court.
• I met someone new. At work. And he's 100% awesome. As my pal Sabs puts it: "He's got good egg written all over him." I've never been so happy.
• I was rediagnosed with cancer very shortly after I left the ex. I was in remission the entire time we were together. He was never "there" for me in any capacity.
• I had surgery. And then I had some more. And as far as we can tell from the labs, blood work, scans and pathology, I may be pretty much OK. I murderalized that freakin' cancer!

Now, four months after submitting that spiteful note to The Stranger, the anger has pretty much evaporated. He can do his thing and I will do mine. I can live without the money as easily as I can live without him. I do not wish him ill. I do wish I lived in a world where mind-erasing scenarios such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind could be realized so I didn't think about him at all, but I still sleep pretty soundly at night regardless. I also sincerely hope all the ladies interested in this now-single man heed my Buyer Beware warning.

So, thank you for the time we have been given. Sorry this resurfaced like a persistent Hydra. Now, on to some new adventures.