The "Livey" email... (but not the thing I was working on outta her archives... that is massive)
June 30th...
I have been trying so very hard since I was forced to
believe that Rob was gone to contain myself when it
comes to Livey.
just that I continue to be able to do so in the face
of her escalating and highly provacative behavior, but
that it gets easier because I well and truly DO
understand the reality of the situation and am then
able to move beyond it. I'll have to admit, because it's so fuckin' obvious
anyway, that yes, I did want to literally destroy her
at first.
I wanted to do to her what I feel in my heart she had
a HUGE hand in doing to Rob.
Or helping him to do... whatever. Ya'll know what I
mean. Hell, I'd still like to have the superhero-like
ability to really get through to her, and oh-hell-yeah
by pounding the snot out of her if it became necessary
(we had to destroy the village in order to save it...
ask a Nam Vet if ya don't get that) to make her see
the truth.
But, since I can clearly see where that train
of thought leads, I'mina just stick to my original
intent, which to simply help myself see more clearly
the whole picture and, at the same time, tell those
whose opinions mean something to me where my head's at
about it all. Now, I'm not gonna sit here and go over the whole
fuckin' damned stupid deal again.
(Unless someone else wants to see it all laid out,
beginning to end, starting with her visiting him in
April (Ed. note... actually it was January...). I'll probably wind up doing something like
that with all the information for myself anyway, just
so I can see it all at once. See if I really am
getting the correct picture...) But, I DO feel compelled to point out one thing... This has NOT been just another "blog drama". A man is dead here. To pass this thing off as just the latest chapter of
the soap opera is to cheapen Rob's death and the
possible meaning of it and things to be learned from
it.
Plus, that's really not what it is to me. In my opinion, blog dramas either are, or can be, at
least slightly "manufactured" and orchestrated for
whatever reason.
I've not been doing that. What's been heard or seen or perceived from me has
been my honest reaction, without thought to anything
but Rob. What I've been doing is expressing my heart, not
trying to fuel some stupid "internet shit". Rob means to much to me to do that using him. He had enough to contend with without me or anyone
else doing that to him, ya know? I'd never do anything to HIM like that anyway,
regardless of how little anyone else may mean to me.
Sure I used Joan to bash Livey and I admitted as much
before I even did it, too.
Remember?
But, like I said, we weren't friends, Joan and I, so
what did I have to lose by doing that? But, Rob is my friend and I do love him for what he
did for me, who he really was and because how can ya
not once you start to see how wonderful he is inside,
therefore I wouldn't use him for anything. Except maybe inspiration. Not just "blog drama". That said, I'll move on. Now, the deal with Livey is that since I got to smoke
a little doobage and shut up the "pissed-off" part of
my brain, I've finally been able to hear and correlate
everything all of y'all have been saying most of the
week. I sat out there on the porch after having butted the
doob and let my mind do it's thing and it suddenly
fell into place, more or less. Again, I feel compelled to interrupt myself and say
something VERY important... In what I'm about to say, however it is that I may put
it, I'm not in any way trying to attack her. There's
no need for that. I see that now.
But, in expressing what I've figured out, it will be
necessary to state some truth... a whole lot of it,
actually.
And, a few facts.
Facts that I do have evidence of, too, if I ever need
it for some currently unforeseen and un-looked for
reason. Meaning, I'm not gonna go after her, but if she
persists in her bullshit with me (or Rob for much
longer), I will knock her down. I'm only human, I can only take s'much and besides,
it's just too fucked up to be allowed to go on,
really.
But, by the same token, I also realize she's not my
responsibilty, not my problem to solve. I am. So, that is my intent.
To learn as much as I can from what happened to Rob
and to maybe become a better person in the process,
not dismantle that sad bitch.
Even if the way I say things come out rough... like
just calling her a sad bitch. I'm not a friggin' literary professor and I don't have
the patience to haul out the $500.00 words to get this
said when I need it out so badly and I express myself
best by being just me, saying what I think and feel
without thinking as I type. Now, back to my point... Livey is one of the most actively "crazy" people I've
ever encountered, second only to the homeless people I
saw once in Philly who were having intense
conversations with shopping carts and bushes and shit. She's almost a female Ted Bundy, in that she has the
right "sane" look like he did, but inside that head is
something scary... just like him. (And, people could
have seen the craziness in his eyes too, had they not
been "swept away" by his looks, as most are not by
Livey's...) She LOOKS right and sane and okay, but,
as soon as she starts to speak... there it is. The woman is just not in touch with reality in the
truest sense of the phrase. Therefore, my trying to have rational discourse with
her is a complete waste of time and effort. She sees what she wants to see, hears what she wants
to hear and believes, with all her heart, that which
she wants to believe. I've seen this before. The people who do this seem to HAVE TO in order to
survive. It's like if they faced the truth, it'd kill 'em or
something. And, in case you're wondering, another person I've had
to live with doing this is my Dad with that whole
endless, tiring "Kim" shit. (Kim is my Dad's wife.
She's 4 years older'n me. Wanna take a guess as to
how well we get along? *rolls eyes*) Just like if my Dad was forced to see the reality of
what happened with me and Kim it'd probably put him in
the ground because it's so fucked up, if Livey ever
was made, somehow, to see her reality, she'd
kill herself.
Or, become so much more mentally crippled that she'd
all but cease to exist in every single way except
literally being dead. Which is no way to try to live. This I know because it damned near happened to me.
Not because I used to be like her or anything. For
other varied and sundry reasons that all led to the
deepest depression I've ever known, the one that Rob
showed me the path through (that Paul damned near
carried me down). That's what Rob saved me from.
That's what he showed me the way out of.
That's what he, through blogging, did for me, by
giving me the tools I needed to "fix" myself and by
"tools", I mean the people I've come to know and love
and the friendships that have resulted from blogging,
which I started doing expressly because of him. And, you people to whom I've sent this email are the
ones I'm talking about.
Some of you (Paul) have been working with me on this
from almost the first moment, some of you only had
these last coupla days (Cat and Nancy) to get your
point across and some of you had mere hours (Key, Sam,
Stacy, Velociman, et al).
But, ya'll did it. But, I wanted a way out, to be saved from
myself before it really was to late. She doesn't. Neither did Rob, frankly.
Because if he had, I'd have done that for him in any
way I had to if for no other reason than I owed him
that much.
For the record, had I been able to do that, it woulda
been for many more reasons than just that.
Not to mention if he had wanted to be saved, all he
would have had to have done was turn to us, let
himself really know how much we all love him, ya know? But, Livey is a very sick woman. And, if I try to make her see the truth, it's taken as
"attacking" her, just like everything else anybody
does within a 50-mile radius of her and it gives her
more opportunity to play the victim. I won't feed her addiction any longer.
I'm not going to help her pull this bullshit. I don't hate her either, because, frankly, she's not
worth the baggage, to me, that hate brings to your
life.
Nor the shitty karma... While I understand this much, I do still have a ways
to go.
I know that because I still don't have the capacity or
ability to pretend to like someone if I well and truly
don't like them. I pull no punches and I don't have the strength to be
able to be nice to her when I feel like I do.
And, until such time as I learn from Cat that the
autopsy shows he died some other way than what we
suspect may have happened, I'll continue to feel like
I do about her.
I just won't be acting on it. Someday, I really do hope I have the ability to be
nice to those I find reprehensible, but I don't have
it now.
Never have had, so this may take a while. But, while I'm trying to find it in myself, I won't be
fucking with her at all. I ignored her Thursday as much as I was able and I'll
not be going to her blog and starting/saying shit to
her (though I may read it as it pays to keep an eye on
people like her) and I won't be posting vitriolic
attacks on her (lack of) character on Xfire. I want to concentrate on the myriad other things there
are to think about concerning this situation with Rob. It's not about her and I won't let it be from my end. Just please remember what I said, though... if she
persists with me, all bets may be off sometime in the
future. She won't be able to follow me around in person any
more like she did at Rob's parent's house, she won't
be able to call people with me sitting right there
knowing she's talking about me by the reactions I'm
seeing, she won't be able to get at me in person. But, she may very well do that kinda shit online and
leave me no choice but to defend myself with the words
and the emails and comments that I've gathered from
the last coupla months. A prosecutor with this much evidence of guilt would be
a scary sumbitch, believe me. Anyway...
as far as I'm concerned, I'm out. Just knowing the truth of how y'all feel about her is
enough for me.
All I'd be doing is preaching to the choir. And, that's boring and I ain't gunna do it. So, thank you all for the things you said to me all
week, the last few days and at Rob's parent's house. Any changes for the good that may take hold in me is
the result of alla y'all's work... it's because of
you. And, if anybody ever asks me what changed me, I'll be
telling them, "It all started with this man named
Rob..." and ending with the roll call of the most
caring, helpful and sweet people I've ever known. Bless you all.... pee ess...
If anyone has any questions about any of this,
anything I can answer for ya to help you understand
this the way y'all helped me understand this, you just
feel free to ask. I'll be able to answer you honestly, truthfully,
without invective.
For you guys, I'll see to that, too.... Thanks again and I appreciate each and every one of
you for what you've all done for me in this, two of
the hardest damned things I've had to deal with and
try to do at the same time... losing Rob and growing
up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi again, you guys... I wrote that part up there while I was still at Cat's.
I am home now. What I'm doing is trying to make myself ready to
finish up with the story of the trip. I need to, as
much as I am able, put myself back in Georgia, back in
Cat's house and back to being in the general vicinity
of that woman. To that end, I'm re-reading my first posts about it,
going through the emails and comments, making notes to
answer specific questions... kinda like taking care of
loose threads. After that, my hope is to be able to get the fun
stuff... Cat showing me Savannah, the place Rob
played, the houses he lived in, the Crackerbox
included.
Livey may be mentioned a few times, as she did come up
in conversation and situations, but, again... I'm only
going to try to relate the story, not attack her. I know I need to send some of you (Sam & Stacey, Cat)
some other stuff and I'll probably go on and dig that
out now, while I wait for the last guy here to go to
bed so I can mute that damned TV and THINK.
*rolls eyes* Anyway... I just didn't want you guys to think you did
me no good if I do get a little pissed in speaking of
her.
I'll try to keep it to a minimum, for you guys as well
as for Rob and my own self. We all deserve to know the truth and we also deserve
NOT to get dragged in her mud. And, in case anyone is wondering... I got my conformation of Rob's death from one of Rob's
neighbors on Monday afternoon.
I called and asked if she happened to live near Rob
Smith and she answered, "Rob Smith? Ohhh, the guy who
killed himself last night. Yeah, I know him. The
trooper who was there told the other neighbors he'd
overdosed himself. Who're you again?" That's one conversation I'm NEVER gonna forget. I just didn't want anyone being blamed for "spilling
it" or anything. I purposely decided to try a
neighbor strictly because they're not constrained by
"privacy issues" like most PD's or ambulance squads
and hospitals are. That, coupled with Rob having made plans with several
of you, then doing that post, then ending up deceased
is why I blame Livey. It seems like it was a very last-minute kinda
decision, almost as if Rob said, "Drama queen who
won't do it? I've got yer "drama queen" right here,
bitch." It looks very much to me like she forced his hand and
he called her bluff in SPADES. I hope I'm wrong, but the odds of him passing away
naturally immediately after that post are
astronomical. The only other possiblilty is that he was pissed and
in pain and did what had worked for him before,
whatever that may have been-eating boiled peanuts,
drinking something, whatever- and this time it
triggered something in his belly or something that
killed him, as opposed to him consciously choosing to
do it himself. If that's the case, then, I may blame her less, but... He did whatever he did because he was unhappy.
She added to that unhappiness by not doing as he
wished, which was- plainly speaking- fucking off. So, no matter how I try to look at it right now, I see
her fingerprints all over his back, pushing him into
it. Giving him the last damned excuse he needed, one
more thing to need to escape from. Anyway...
I'm gonna go on and get this sent.
Sam and Cat... that deleted "update" from Rob's "I
feel better" post will follow, as requested. Hope everybody is doing okay at least and thank you
all again for everything you've done to help me come
to grips with this whole thing. Stevie I made two typo corrections and may, in the future, delete the paragraphs about my Dad's wife, if he asks me to. I only related that to make people understand that I've seen this kinda thing before... and sorry I didn't have time to make it "fit" better here, to take it out of "email format". I'm cooking dinner now... me
Comments
This is gut wrenching stuff.....and one can only hope that when it comes to Livey's miserable life, that what GOES around COMES around...Heres hoping she gets EVERYTHING she has coming to her (and then some)
Posted by: Ruth at July 06, 2006 08:07 PM (kqTXB)
Posted by: Terry at July 06, 2006 08:54 PM (wZLWV)
A couple of things that I am still confused about:
How could he have overdosed himself since he said his Dr's wouldn't give him anything for pain?
and
I keep hearing "autopsy". From what I have read, Rob has already been creamated, so if an autopsy wasn't done prior to cremation then it certainly can't be done now. If an autospy was done prior to cremation then the answers would already be back.
Any idea?
Thanks again Stevie,
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn at July 06, 2006 09:49 PM (ZJsIz)
Posted by Dennis at July 6, 2006 07:50 PM
I thought this one deserved another go around.Dennis has said exactly what a lot of us out here are thinking.....and one question Stevie, if Rob did kill himself why aren't any of the others who posted encouragement or jokes about his "offing" himself on your shit list... just wondering.
Posted by: Tilly at July 06, 2006 10:08 PM (ltHmm)
Let's talk, because you're all apopleptic and have been that way for several days; I'm afraid you're doing your innards some harm at this point in the game.
Wise person once told me, "Save your emotions for those you care about." Because my passion, he said, was a valuable thing in a passionless world. At the time, he both perplexed me and pissed me off. In retrospect, with each passing day and year, I am more and more amazed by his little spiel. Because he was right. Why would I waste all that MOST EXCELLENT energy on people and things that I could give the square root of fuck-all about? I'd rather spend my time fucking than fighting any old day (even though fighting has its charms to those of us with a warrior spirit, it does little for the constitution in comparison to a good, screaming orgasm. Yay, team!). The more pettiness I abandon, the more zest I have for those things and people I adore.
Rob knew little peace while he was alive. You people let him have what he's (maybe? maybe not? what the hell do I know?) due now. Walk away, D. Turn your head, so that you are not even tempted to track her in the corner of your eye, square those shoulders and gliiiiide away. I know you can. You know you can. Rob's dignity is not at stake here....dead folk don't know such words. Only your dignity stands to be toppled in this little production. NOBODY looks dignified while flinging pigshit. If she keeps flinging it while you walk, so be it. Suuuuure, a bit may wing you on the backside, but shit only flies so far and when it's all dried up it flakes off anyway. You keep your back turned and keep walking, none of it ends up in your mouth...you dig? Eating shit is a miserable way to pass the time.
In all fairness to this Livey-person (of whom I have little to no knowledge, as I've not made her acquaintance), you are chucking some mighty weighted, mighty poisonous darts at her head. You might want to rethink your stand on her 'pushing Rob to do it' (paraphrased, of course) and even if you really and truly DO believe it, it makes no sense to say it until there are autopsy results in hand.
(Good God, not that those autopsy results are any of the interwebnet's business. I just keep thinking, "Rob's poor kid. She knows where all these websites are." How could she help but read them? Grieving people seek out things about those they're grieving over.)
I understand that Rob is/was your hero, but even the best heroes have flaws. In fact, THE VERY BEST heroes have flaws; makes them more appealing to us: "See? They are human, but they are larger-than-life! There just might be hope for me!" Everyone who read him, friend and foe, seems to realize that. This next thing is not said to hurt you, but: Everyone, that is, but you. You are making a lot of people nervous with your staunch refusal to see.
Some of my favorite and best Cyberian friends are those that are willing/able/inclined to call bullshit on me when necessary. I don't hold much truck with sycophants. I'm okay with being flawed. My friends are okay with my being flawed, because they are, as well. Doesn't detract from any of us as people that we have enough issues to make up a couple subscriptions.
There is naught wrong with a rational exchanging of ideas. Likewise, there is nothing wrong with disagreement, even when it's not especially deferential. There has to be a point, though, when someone toes up to rationality and says, "Welp, I'm not gonna sell this one." and moves the fuck on.
Move the fuck on, girl. Revisit it sometime in the future when you and all the other parties involved are not so raw. When and if you do revisit it, however, take great pains to get it out of your system for once and for all.
Also, please know that some people who e-mail you under the guise of 'wanting the whole truth' are just drama whores who revel in the misery and upset of others. Careful who you lend your attentions to. Especially careful. It's easy to see people through rose-colored glasses when there is a 'my team, their team' mentality afoot, as there seems to be here.
If you have beef with Livey, if Livey has beef with you, it should be nobody else's business, really. You people should be hashing it out betwixt yourselves behind the curtain. Most of the rest of us in Oz would like to just yuk it up in the Emerald City.
Blessings,
Jett "I'd Rather Not Pull Punches" Superior
Posted by: Jett at July 06, 2006 10:26 PM (53YHp)
I admire Stevie for what she is doing. She is following her heart. After doing a bit of reading in Rob's archives I would say she is definitely doing something he would approve of. Sounds to me like Livey acted like an ass at the funeral and opened herself up to this. Typically, normal Southern folk do not run around kissing boxes at a memorial service! Of course she ain't from the South either. But still... You do something like that and folks are gonna talk.
The only real difference I see in what Stevie is doing is being extremely real and to the point about all of this. She hides nothing, and does not pretend to be nice about why she is doing this. In the South we would probably be doing the same thing but would maybe throw in a few *Bless her heart!"s to make it sound better... LOL
Also, so far Catfish and Willy, Rob's two closest *real life* friends seem to be supporting Stevie 100% and THAT says alot to me, all by itself.
Posted by: EliabethOfTheSouth at July 07, 2006 02:48 AM (YnIJr)
I don't recall that my comment was addressed to you. I have no interest in your self-justification. Kindly piss off.
Thanks, looky-loo,
Jett
pee ess...typically, normal Southerin Folk don't run around the interwebnets, acting a fool. Besides, isn't this Livey-person a Yankee? Can't you give her a pass on, "Ohhh, bless her, she hasn't the raising we do."
Posted by: Jett at July 07, 2006 03:21 AM (53YHp)
And "Kindly piss off" ??? Nope. Don't think I will. But thanks for thinking of me.
Bless your heart.
Now since you "in Oz would like to just yuk it up in the Emerald City." Why dontcha just go off somewhere and yuk it up.
Posted by: ElizabethOfTheSouth at July 07, 2006 07:39 AM (YnIJr)
Posted by: Willy at July 07, 2006 08:55 AM (0xUym)
Posted by: Desert Cat at July 07, 2006 10:20 AM (xdX36)
Posted by: wc~ at July 07, 2006 10:23 AM (LUU0H)
Posted by: Deb at July 07, 2006 04:21 PM (wocRc)
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