hankster: I'm a little confused by your post--the first one about what I said to granite. I sincerely meant that I hoped that granite would believe that her T cares. I didn't mean it any other way. Here I go again, about my mother. She liked me, in fact, loved me, and did not neglect me. My experience was not yours. The Sally Field quote was about others liking me--my peers, not my parents. So, I still don't know what the magic ingredient was that I missed. Is that what you mean? I'll never know. I think I have to live with the not-knowing, but knowing that I need a lot of love and attention, for whatever reasons.

I couldn't for the life of me think what the Trudy books were at first! Oh, Torey Hayden!! You've read them. Yes, it's true that we all want our mothers. Wasn't it monkeys that went back to the wired monkey "mother" even if they got a shock, or something like that?

ECHOES: That makes sense.

CantExplain: I'm glad you're reasonably happy now! What about in bad weather!?

Sannah: Maybe it's about self-worth. I think it's about being appreciated by others.

Squiggle: Thank you! I thought of not posting this thread but then I thought: what have I got to lose? Life is short; I may as well risk it.

hankster: I'm glad you're waking up feeling better. I'm sorry you have to stay away from your family but if that's what it takes, then that's what you have to do.