Pg 11 - My Story

Sorry I am so late getting on this today but I have  been busy with my grandchildren and loving every minute of  it. Thank you for coming back and on with the story.

It was in April of 1989 and married for fifteen years when this run of bad luck happened to us. First we lost our home; actually we gave it away to someone who would take over the payments. But we did not get any of our money back we put into it. We had to pack ourselves this time instead of having movers like we did the last two moves, which meant a smaller truck that we had to drive, and leaving a lot of belongings behind never to see again. Jimmy found us a small two bedroom apartment for the first month to live in. We had mattresses under the stairwell, and in closets besides the two bedrooms. There was no privacy for anyone as the seven of us got squeezed into this small place.

On a good note, I found out that one of my cousins lived in San Antonio with her husband, so it was nice not being totally alone. They brought us to the Fiesta at the River Walk, and showed us all around the famous River Walk, the Alamo, and the Antonio Missions. We found some great natural Bridge Caverns and had fun exploring this new city.

In May we moved to a three bedroom apartment. We gave the three oldest the master bedroom, the two youngest the second biggest room and we took the smallest one. There was only a living room and kitchen so they had to have someplace to keep their  toys.  We were definitely not use to such small quarters but we had no choice but to make the best of  it. There was a pool on the site and with the weather so hot, we used it a lot. I got the kids back into school and tried to make this as comfortable as I could.  When the birthdays came around we spent them at MacArther Park and SeaWorld or I would have a party at the apartment with all the kids that lived in the complex.

I noticed that Jimmy was starting to get more depressed. He quit calling me as much as he use to and started staying out later and later after work.  I would ask him what was wrong and he would tell me nothing.  He was moody, and always angry for any little reason.  Finally he told me one day that he was allowed to go out with people other than me, and that he was  going to a little bar across the street from  his work with some of the employees. This to me was unusual behavior.

Well one of my neighbors was a private detective and we got to talking. I told him about my husband's odd behavior and he suggested that I sort of follow him. He showed me how to know if he drove more miles than to work. All I had to do was drive to his work and back and jot how many miles it was. Than when Jimmy was home, I was instructed to go into his car and write down the miles on it. When  he came home late I could check the miles to see how far he actually drove.  The neighbor also told me to buy a voice activated recorder to put into his car. That way I could listen to see if he was talking to anyone.   My head was spinning. I couldn't imagine doing all of this, but Jimmy was losing touch with us and I had to find out what was going on.

My heart pounded in my chest the first time I listened to the recorder. I could hear the  car start, and the radio on. When he got to work the recorder stopped until he got back in to go home. But wait, was that a woman's voice I heard? I could not make out what was being said, and the tears started. Not again.
So I found a babysitter and another neighbor came with me in her car while we sat in the parking lot waiting for Jimmy to leave.  I really hated this spying thing.  The nights we were there he came straight home and we had to hurry to beat him.  I tried some more to get him to talk to me, and tell me what was wrong, but he wouldn't respond. He started to leave me alone, would not touch me, or kiss me unless I nagged him and I was nervous.

One day I got a strange  phone call from a girl at his work. She told me that my husband had been sending her cards and flowers, asking her to go out with him. My heart dropped as I listened to her words. She told me that she doesn't go out with married men and turned him down over and over again. But she said there is a girl with the name  of Gloria who is after your husband, and I thought I should let you know. 

We made a plan and she gave me the address to this girl Gloria's house, I  followed her and found my  husband's car out front. There was Jimmy walking out of her house. I  could not breathe, yet believe what I was seeing. I ran to the car and asked him to come home. He told me to go home and leave  him alone. I begged him, crying and pleading but ended up going home alone as Gloria got into his car and they drove off.

He came home late that night and he told me that this girl intrigued him. He said that at one  of the nights when he went out with his crew after work she was dancing around him and slipped her hand inside the top button of his shirt saying "Do you know what it is like to make love to a lonely woman?"

I was living as two different people now. I had to be a strong person for my children and I when I was behind closed doors I wept.  I still took my kids to the park, zoo and made fun Halloween customs for the Halloween party at our complex. My cousin would come over, along with my parents and his parents at different times with no one to the wise what was going on. I tried to act like everything was all right.  I couldn't eat, or sleep. 

It was on New Years Eve when I decided to go to my friend Sherry's house to get away from Jimmy and talk to a friend. It was so good to see her, and let my kids play in more of a cheery atmosphere.  The second night I was at her home I decided to call my house. Jimmy answered the phone and when I said hi  he hung up. I kept trying to call back but he kept the phone off the hook. My heart was now beating out of my chest. I couldn't breathe or think straight, so I packed up the kids and drove straight home.

I found my husband in the house being real sweet to me. The fridge had beer in it, something we usually didn't have in the house. When I put the kids to bed, I came to bed with Jimmy who seemed happy to see me. We made love and I started to feel better, that is until I saw makeup on my sheets.

I asked Jimmy how the makeup got on the sheets. He laughed and told me I must have forgotten to take my make up off, only I don't wear makeup.  I waited for him to go to sleep. I took a picture of me and my kids and drove to Gloria's house. Nervously I knocked on  the door and when she opened it she said, "Oh it's you."  I asked her why she had sex in my bed and she replied she didn't think Jimmy would tell me and I replied he didn't. She asked me in and we talked. I showed her the picture of our family and asked her how she could live with her self destroying up a family. She told me that it takes two and I should just ask him.

Sorry that is enough for now.  I will try and get back on tomorrow in between patients as I work on the ambulance. Have a great evening and give your loved one a kiss. I won't let my husband leave the house without a kiss.

Living in San Antonio Marie-Jennifer-Regina-Erik-Jessica-Kristina

Jimmy & Marie