Lee, I've always thought of "slippery people" as drinkers/partiers. But your post includes something I wouldn't have thought of that way: my family. My father drank like an alcoholic when I was growing up. He doesn't drink now, but never admitted alcoholism, just got old, started taking meds, quit drinking. But I find that when I'm with him and my mom, even though I'm over 50, all my issues come up with his past physical/emotional abuse and my mother's failure to protect me (especially the time he beat me badly in front of many people, and she stood by the door to prevent others from coming out to stop the beating.)

So, my ACOA issues lead to my "slippery people" issues. Sometimes I think I'm better off not seeing them again. Which leads to so much guilt (they are very old now, frail, sick themselves) why can't I get over it??? My mother half-apologized (in her own sick way) but why can't I just be with them without it sending me into an emotional spiral?