Page 30 - january 2022

GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE

100% of the time. And then to my utmost horror, me. I am addicted to the feeling of power.

it hit me like a ton of bricks, I was turning into For almost ten years I have had the sincere
my parents! pleasure to mentor a young man I worked with
Since the start of the pandemic, I have at the stadium. He is still pursuing his dream
become my parents with all the requirements and gets closer and closer to that goal. It is one

needed to keep safe. I find that I use the “hidden of those ask-any-question-and-I-will-try-to-
mind tapes” of my mother about keeping the answer-it relationships as he picks my feeble
house clean, not wearing the “outside” shoes in brain about my past experiences.
the house, and the list goes on and on. GUILTY, One of the most recent ones he asked of me

your honor! Guilty as charged. I am becoming was “when did my parents stop telling me what to
my parents! do?” I can not tell him a lie, but perhaps I should
What is worse is that I say hello to strangers have. I simply told him the truth. Although I did
walking down the street. I give advice, directions, not get a “Jack Nicholson” reaction to the truth,

and other “parental” type actions in restaurants, I could tell he was shocked by my candid and
the coffee shop, and continue on at home. I sincere answer. “You do not,” I told him. “The
caught myself the other night saying, “if you don’t night before my mother died unexpectedly, she
need that light on, turn it off.” (Okay, that was was still “telling me what to do!” She in her 80’s,

my father from his U.S. Navy career.) I cringed I then 60. It really does not change if you have
after I let the words “you were lucky growing a relationship with your parents. They continue
up you didn’t have to walk to school” fall out of to love, nurture, and guide you (in spite of your
my mouth. Shades of the 1930’s twenty-feet-of- age) because they are your parents.”

deep-snow-and-walking-five-miles-each-way Yes, this has been a look back. Scary—one of
syndrome from Dad. Mom comes out when I recrimination and guilt—but it was the truth.
think (and sadly state) “what did your last servant Dr. Rick, on his famous field trip, has his group
die of? Overwork?” Ah, yes. I am a walking ad standing and watching a person walking by with

for “becoming your parent.” brilliant blue hair. He calmly, in his “therapist”
Therapy session of Dr. Rick! Thanks, Flo, it is voice tells them, “We all see it. We all see it.” As
all your fault I am in the predicament today What he suggests they do not vocally react. Of course,
did you say there? Yes, you, over in the corner? one of them has to say something about the

Did I hear you say, “Denial is more than a river?” blue hair. So Captain Obvious! In the scheme
Caught. Adjudicated. Awaiting sentencing. of things, that individual would have been me.
I plead for mercy, to take pity on me and even They keep telling me “That admitting you have
provide a sense of hope and revival. a problem is the start of healing.”

But I know the truth. I have descended into “We now return control of your television
the depths of becoming my parents. And as set to you.” Happy New Year, and even happier
much as I cry for help, seek counsel, and want viewing. Oh, and I never did get the answer to
to change—it is far too deeply ingrained within “What does the dishwasher do?”

30 ONE COMMUNITY