Thank you for responding, Be. I'm really having a tough time with my emotions. The daughter he had with this wife and I talked for a long time this morning. It's almost like I was talking to another daughter. She looks and sounds just like the daughter I had with this man. The only difference is that she's blonde.

We not only talked about "Dad" and his quirks, but we talked about her testifying at her uncle's trial. He was found guilty of child sexual abuse... so we talked about that. My daughter told her about mine so she knows. It was tough, but I didn't break down.

All of my upbrining interfered with my emotions. Why would I give this woman any support? She was born out of wedlock to my EX for heaven's sake. But I can't deny my feelings for her, either!

Even she thinks that her mother is helping her dad to die with her nastiness and her neglect. I can't tell her how I feel about her mother and I sure can't act like I care more for her dad than I do. You're right. It's Human Compassion and I have to make sure I get that across... nothing else.

Yet, I've felt my anxiety rising. This is stressing me out more than my own health issues. It's a personal problem I have of wanting to run and scoop up in my arms, whoever is having a rough time and "rescuing them." Nope! I can't do that! The last time I did that with my ex, it sent me into 12 yrs of pure HELL!

He's a different man now, but I have a husband! I can't involve myself with ANY man that way! It just seems that I have a constant battle inside me. Then to top it all off, Jerry seems to be very concerned about him, too. It doesn't help! LOL Knowing why Jerry is concerned for him, because of the two kids of his that Jerry raised, doesn't help me, either. It makes it easier for me to follow my instincts.

Oy vey! It's not always easy to be a compassionate person! It would have been so much easier if I had remained indifferent to him! ggrrrrrrr

I really do appreciate your response, Be!