The Arrival of Jealousy

In our house the arrival of Jealousy is strictly taboo. She came in with the gust of a 1930's dust bowl and made herself at home. Most often we walk around her pretending that she is not there. Sometimes, I will set my mind to sweeping her out of our home. (Or at least under the rug.) But before I can finish this monumental task, the man of the house mixes her a drink.

Drink in hand, fueled, Jealousy orders return address stickers with her name in curlicue's and our address in bold.

It's not that I have never been jealous before. In the past it was a fleeting thought.

"How cute that dad is out by himself with his little kids, I wish that was my husband."
"They look great on the dance floor together, I wish that was Ben and I."
"They won how much? Why not me!"

It's just that this is the first time I have had her as a house pest . . . I am completely unequipped for the battle.

She is a strong contender; armed with ugly truths.
She is wise; she embedded herself with Love.
She is sneaky; she attacks after I think that she has hit the road.
She is bold; she invades my dreams.

I know if I could simply stop feeding Jealousy with time she would either leave or wither away. Such is my intent, but . . . damn, a girl can only take so much.

So, I sat her down today for a long talk. Told her this "arrangement" was not working out for me. And as Marion Robert Morrison might say, I told her with absolute certainty,

"This town ain't big enough for the two of us!"

The talk went . . .okay . . . she was a great sport about it, she even offered to help me pack!