I'm glad you got your money. Please know that I will help you when I can and I trust you that you won't take advantage of tom.
It is so strange for me and incredibly lonely. I feel like I sawed off my own leg by leaving you in Thailand and it hurts and I caused the hurt to me and you. Yet, it I stayed in Thailand I'd continue to be a distant, strange memory for my son. I'd not be able to see him because my money will be less next year and I'll be unable to spend money on travel. So it was to saw off my one leg - so much a part of me - you,, or the other leg-so much a part of me-Devin.
I would fad from his memory and I'd always regret that and he'd resent me. When I left his mom, and there were many reasons why, it was perhaps the most hurtful thing I've done in my life. Devin felt as kid that I left him too, even though I'd still be a parent to him, yet this was trying to juggle many responsibilities with Char and her family - now also mine. In his late teens and early twenties when Devin needed me most, I was not there for him because of my own depression, issues with lack of work and being old, Char and my marriage breaking up. Devin had a very bad mental breakdown and I feel partly responsible for that and I was unable to be there to help as I was Illegal in Thailand.
He's not out of the woods, or totally better now, and his life will be a difficult one for many reasons. He's only 24 and has life ahead of him. I want to part of that history if he allows it and I believe he wants that too. I think his mom is relieved that she can get some help since she's had to carry incredible burden during Devin's illness. In Ecuador, I can live better than in America, get travel discounts (also on utilities, public transport, medical care, events, etc.) so I can get to the States even when I'm down to one income next year. I can bring him down to me to stay periods of time.
Being in Thailand and not being able to be the father I could be being closer to the States would haunt me all my remainder of my live. I met a number of different farang in Thailand who had no, or little, connection with their kids. A couple of people were really bothered by not having connections to their own kids, but, most didn't care. That was strange to me. I'm not like that because I'd feel horribly incomplete without connection to Devin, even if it was a bad connection - at least it would be a connection.
If it's one thing that you gathered from me all along in knowing me, it is this: I always missed my son, thought a lot about him, grieved over not being there for him to comfort him when he's was in so much pain and always wanted to think of ways to see him more. Even when he got so sick mentally when he was in Thailand and he hurt me a lot, it made me even more determined to help him and try to better be there for him. You even said that he loves me, you could see it in his eyes when he looked me.
You love me too. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me. I hope you could see it in my eyes as well because I love you and always will. I'll not want to love another and will live my life alone from another significant other.
We'll both be strong. We have to be because we have to live our lives without mates and that's difficult. You can and will do it.
Please don't think that I think you're out there looking for another man. You're not like that and I know that. I just want you to know that you'll heal over our no longer being lovers and that you have so much kindness to give that you should be open to possible share that with someone.
You're as close to me as my leg and I just sawed you off.
No CPAP yet. Today I'm taking positive steps to get vitamins to help build red-blood cells that carry oxygen to the blood. You need more in higher altitudes. Considering that my sleep is bad, my health overall is pretty good though my arthritis is hurting more. That will clear up when I move to a different place which I'll do in the next couple of months (or sooner) that won't be as cold and the air will be better. Also, when I can lay down to sleep instead of sitting upright, it will help take pressure of joints and neck.
I'm very depressed. It's okay because I can control it. Talking with you helps though part of the reason why I'm depressed is that I've hurt you and me in leaving Thailand. I did find some marijuana and that helps with the depression. Once I settle more, I'll get a used bike (not a new one like in Thailand) and that will help me get out more to see things as I can't walk as much as I used to.
What I've seen of Cuenca is beautiful and unique. I do want to see if I can adapt here and not move to a lower altitude. Even though Manta would be warmer, on the ocean and lower in altitude, it's an industrial town and less open to foreigners from what I hear and has higher crime. Cuenca is a pretty safe city.
Well, I'm just writing and writing because I miss you so much. If I go on and on about my leaving, it's because I want you to know some of my though processes. I didn't talk about how, as a farang, I was feeling in Thailand and becoming increasingly uneasy about the changes that are going on there. It is truly a different culture in both good and bad ways.
Okay, okay, it's long.
Love and miss you a lot too.
tom