Ahh..batfans, I have missed you in ways-and in ways I have not.

It's time to update and get this blog rolling once again.

When I left you last I had found myself in a comfortable relationship with Nate, a good friend for the past 4 years..why am I back, you ask? What could have marred such a perfect setup? I mean, after all, we had been friends, I knew him, he was wonderfully matched with me on many different levels-shouldn't I be living life in happy relationship bliss??? Shouldn't I be out of the dating phase and into the seeing where it goes phase?

One would have hoped, but alas, my dedicated readers, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that aside from God, family, and close lifelong friends nothing in this world is certain.

It seems that somewhere along the line Nate allowed himself to be twisted. When I say that, I do not mean in our relationship I mean in life. Instead of being the open, honest and reliable man he was when I knew him before, he instead has twisted into someone who values deceit, illusion, and fantasy above all else.

What, you ask? How did this come about you wonder? Well I'll tell you.

Nate and I were clicking along just fine, waiting for him to come visit for a week before moving up here. Then it seemed that situation after situation kept coming up to keep him from being here. First, it was a project that needed to be finished, then he broke his foot, then his brother fell sick, then it was financial issues..Couple that with a giant lie that I uncovered regarding his music and I began to get that intuitive little quiver on the back of my neck that said something was just not right. I'm lucky I've learned to listen to that little quiver..

See, Nate had sent me 80 files, all of him-different music covers and some originals. Or so I thought. Unfortunately, I found out that they were not him, not a single one. I apologize now for anyone who has one of these files since I did share his work with others because I was proud of how he'd grown in his talent. After this lie was unmasked I took a step back from our relationship situation, not entirely but I was definitely more guarded.

As time went on and I maintained my guarded nature I stumbled on more lies..and then more..culminating in finding out that he was not only cultivating a relationship with me, but with two others as well-all of us believing we were the only person he was speaking to, him telling all of us the same things and making plans with all of us for the future.

Now, let me just say that I have walked this path before so I was not at all confused as to how to handle it. I immediately called him on the issue, and he did admit it. Then I came in contact with one of the other women, a nice single mom here in Eugene, and let her know what the scope of my relationship with him had been so that she and I could try to piece together how much was true from what he had said, and how much was fabrication.

Let me just say that nothing he'd told me was true, for the most part. Including the broken foot situation! Now I'm not a suspicious person or mistrusting person by nature so I tend to believe it when someone sends you pictures of their broken foot, and their cast, and texts you after the Dr's appointments giving you updates to their condition and complains daily about the crutches/pain/atrophy going on in his lower calf. When you later find out that has all been a rouse..well it tends to make you do one of two things; cry at the level of deception, or laugh because it's just..so..sad and unfathomable.

I, of course, have opted for the second of those two options. I seriously am so..shocked and taken back by his actions that ALL I can do is laugh about it! I don't have any stabbing pains of hurt anymore, I did the first night for sure, but I do have a sense of sadness for him as a person, and for the loss of someone I considered one of my closest guy friends.

I'm not sure what happened to Nate to twist him like this during his time away from Eugene, but I pray that he will see the futility in living life the way he has been, find himself reconnect with God, and go on to live a happy, honest, full life. I have no malice in my heart for him at all.

Where does that leave me you ask? Well, I'm back to meeting people as friends. Nursing school is taking a lot of my focus, and it's my daughter's senior year, so I'm content to just let life and God bring me what they may!

Of course, along the way, I'm sure there will be things that are far too funny not to share and this will be my medium. I hope you will continue to tune in!

Until next time, batfans, be well, love life, laugh, and above all-be true to yourself and to others.