Dear rsclutch ~ Welcome to PC! You will find friendship and support here, without a doubt. As was stated above, many, if not most, of us here have the same loneliness. Many of us are estranged from family or have lost family, and many of us have social anxiety which make establishing friendships more difficult. I am so sorry that you had a disappointing TG. I knew that I would be alone, so I just spent the day in bed, sleeping when I could. Sooner or later, we all lose our parents, whether it be by estrangement, [their] neglect, or in death. It is a strange experience, filled with dispair. However, by reaching out to others, as you have done in posting here, you will find friends to fill that void. Look for support groups or a therapist in your area as well. I would welcome PM messages from you! billieJ