Daddydavek

I don't think my favorite author is writing off Robbie. In the chapter just posted, it is clear that Brad has not given up on him and he even pointed out to Will why it may be in his self-interest to make the first conciliatory move toward Robbie. Of course that was rebuffed, but things are never easy, so what else is new? While the shenanigans of the younger CAP generation remain filled with adolescent angst, Robbie has in many ways often made things interesting as well as he seems to stumble through his family relationships. Who else could fill his role?

The fact that the 'family' got that Will was excluded and that wasn't right and that even Brad made a point of coming up to see him and strategize with him was really nice to see. Being an adult is not always fun and sometimes in order to get where we want, we have to make the first concession. Will is learning that. As the end of the chapter showed, even saying 'sorry' can have roadblocks. For my New Year's wishes: I think I'm ready for a Wade interlude. I am more than ready for a Granger fix.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Well I ran out of likes for the last several chapters but I really liked the entire story! I too would love to see a season "2" down the road so to speak! Great job and two thumbs up!

Oh my! Just met and already waking up to a kiss!

Okay, I'm hooked!

Another Christmas surprise! Thanks!

At Christmas, a special shout-out to Mark Arbour and his legion of fans that keep him motivated to write! I am being completely selfish in this as I always look forward to the next installment in either the CAP or Bridgemont world! DDK

The witch is much too lucky and Trevor isn't.

Merry Christmas to all!

Some people work well together in tight spaces, but usually it takes a lot of practice. I suggest you have Bret stand guard over his mum to keep her out of your way. HO HO HO!

We will have mostaccioli, green bean casserole, a cold meat platter with ham, turkey, and beef, jello fruit salad, mixed veggie platter, mixed cheese platter, and four kinds of bread plus hot garlic bread. Dessert will be homemade chocolate cream pie and homemade coconut cream pie. There will 12 people. Drinks will be water, milk, three kinds of wine and beer. Here is a link to the mostaccioli recipe. We only use a half pound of pork sausage and add a half pound of lean ground beef. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Mostaccioli/

Happy Birthday Greg! I wish you the best! Everything but the crown!

Thanks for the update. Your brother and family remain in my prayers. It still sounds like he has maintained his positive attitude and that counts! Hugs! DDK

I have no idea what kind of road you were on or the possible traffic you might have encountered. But where I live, I can just imagine a rider zooming along that fast and hitting a deer which seem to be everywhere this year. So I would have to conclude it was probably not the smartest thing you ever did even if it was fun getting by with it.

Will's idea to get Darius to be guardian was mature, logical and insightful. JJ's reaction was predictable. Robbie going along with it was almost surprising in view of his recent decisions. Brad going along with it was a slight stretch for him. Mr. Arbour continues to surprise. I guess that's why his stories have so many fans! Well done!

Wow, everything was going so well and then their world just fell apart. I am hooked!

Happy Birthday!

Yeah, I do. My dad was killed in a car accident in 1963 when I was still 15 years old. I was sitting next to him in the front seat when it happened. As a teenager, I would be in bed at night thinking about my problems and and would make an imaginary phone call to dad to run my thoughts past him. I knew him well enough to imagine what he would say. I am now 65 years old. I still call my dad sometimes. The senseless killing at Newtown was one such time. I will never forget my dad, or that I sometimes need to run my problems past him for his wisdom and advice. Sometimes he is as befuddled as I am, but I still feel better having at least aired my problems. My heritage is of German ancestry on both my mother's and father's sides of the family tree.

Thinking of all the wonderful people who we will miss this Christmas, including the recent news about Roan.

My condolences to the family and friends of this beautiful young man! Family and friends will keep his memory like a shining candle in a world filled with violence and darkness.

Wayne you have a lot of insight into your world, now it is up to you to take concrete steps to bring about the changes you need. Don't just look for a new job, actively seek one and get the hell out of retail. With your skills and knowledge you know you can make better utilization of your skill sets. You are in desparate need of a night on the town to a good restaurant and a concert or show. Grab a friend, make plans and then just do it. Big hug. And oh by the way, I liked what you said to KC on his recent blog entry. You are a good friend to him and he too is having a hard time. This is a hard time of year for many and as a dad and grandpa I can't imagine the devastating loss the parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles are facing in Newtown. That the loss is a little more personal for you as you are familiar with the area is another burden in this troublesome year. Even my 89 year old mother has called 2012 the year from hell and I think most everyone will be glad to put it behind them. Another big hug!

Poor Robbie, Will has opened his eyes and he just wants to blink it away. Looking back over the saga, I must say that Robbie has great acumen in getting things bass ackwards and he has not disappointed again. Will is still having way too much fun for a highschool kid and seems to have experiences that are every gay boy's fantasy. The now somewhat less controlling Brad is trying to sort out another mess which unfortunately, he allowed to develop right under his nose. Sounds like another great chapter! Thanks!

Reading about other people's mental health issues is a lot different than having to deal up close and personal with them as a family member. Separating their feelings and reactions toward the sick family member from the person's illness is usually impossible as there is a steep learning curve. Enabling behavior is often the first response as family members make excuses. I think Mark is telling a very believable story. Robbie is not some weirdo, he is doing what he thinks is best. We can see that his judgment is clouded, he thinks he is caring. JJ is a needy child and is used to blabbing everything to mommy. As mommy has regressed he regressed a bit too. My point is, that Will's insight resulted in part because he separated himself from his family emotionally and was able to attain a vantage point where he could rationally look at what was going on and felt a responsibility. I think Mark very carefully laid this out in scattered bits through the prior chapters. Families are a special group dynamic and it is not always rational from anyone's point of view. Hopefully, the parental units can display a meaningful measure of responsibility and rationality, but every parent I know has lost it at some point.

Unless a 14 year middie was a very good seaman, willing to work hard and study, they didn't get ahead. A spoiled, opinionated one would get the lash and be broken very quickly. Discipline on a ship was tough on laggards and the spoiled. It was a much different time with a different set of values. Kids had to grow up fast and the school of hard knocks was the rule rather than the exception.