I echo Victor, Bridget, so sorry that you have been feeling so awful but
it is good to know that you seem to be on the way to recovery.

Gigantic purrs

Bev

Seconded. Those "amazing" genes must run in the family, because I think both
your neice and yourself are truly amazing with the way you deal with such
strength and rationailty to things that are mad and would break many others.

Kudos to your neice, your sister, and you as well.

And purrs of course.

Yowie

<snip>

There's denial and/or that shifty scuzzballs are very good at keeping their
disgusting habits secret.

It could well be that she was truly ignorant of it, or that she kept herself
in denial about it, and so truly believes he is innocent.

I would hazard a guess that most people, if they conciously knew their
partner was a pedophile, would drop them like a hot potato, if not call the
police themselves. I know I would.

Yowie

I really appreciate the concerns everyone has had about me.  When Yowie
told me what she did, I was first annoyed, but immediately after glad
she told everyone that I was struggling because I do believe in the
power of our group.

I took Stripey Thing to the hospital with me.  He's the one I have been
taking with me for a couple of years now.  And per usual, those who knew
there was a REAL cat on the unit were jealous.  But I was so glad for
him to be there I don't know what I'd have done without him annoying me
while I was journaling.  That soft fur made the tears more bearable.

I left Tony at home with the new acquisition, Mattie.  I got her because
the last time I had to leave him home alone he was inconsolable for
almost three days when I got home.  He is the most social cat I've ever
known and needs some social outlet.  And evidently, even a 10 month old
kitten who pounces on everything and that he doesn't particularly like
yet was enough to keep him from getting inconsolable because he was fine
when I got home.  I was incredibly relieved.

I'll be starting to train Mattie to be able to go with me to the
hospital now by getting her used to the car and leashes and new places
so that when she calms down from severe kittenhood, she can go with me
and I can leave the Stripey Thing at home sometimes.  Tony likes the
Stripey Thing a lot better. :)

My Dad is doing okay.  His cat now has a roommate too.  Dad's roommate
wanted a cat and since Dad and the roommate get along so well, the
nursing home said okay - so long as the new cat got along with my Dad's
cat.  The roommates family got him a 6 month old kitten who immediately
got along with Dad's cat.  They curl up to sleep together and play
together in the middle of the night.  It is a GOOD thing.  My Dad likes
the new cat.

My sister can't have pets where she is, although, I suspect the landlord
would just about do anything for them right now with what has happened.
 The landlord is just sick about what happened.  I also suspect my
sister really doesn't want the expense of a pet or the responsibility of
one just yet though.  She is struggling right now just to keep her head
above water and adding one more thing would be hard.  Even if it is warm
and fuzzy and therapeutic.

I think that is all the questions.

Bridget

Truly sorry to hear of what happened to your Niece Bridget, I had a foster
child that was brought up to think this behaviour was ok, she was still only
seven when I got her, and I always said she was gutsy because she finally
put it behind her and she went to court a couple of years later to testify
against the
family that had brought her up this way, including her mother. Your Niece
will
be fine I'm sure because she has such a loving family to support her, but
it was a terrible ordeal for her to go through. Glad you are all surviving
this tradgedy
{{{{{{{{{{for everyone}}}}}}}}}}   Jean.P.