6 days.
Just under six days. **I now know that’s how long I can be home without any troubles.
Then the madness begins again, and the poison gets stirred up,
like those granules of sugar at the bottom of your coffee cup.
That perfect cup that ends with the too-sweet, syrupy sip.
Only at home, its never sugar. It’s comments that slice and words that sting.

I know I’m not the only one.
I see ****-loads of holiday mayday.
Family reunions that have never felt any good.    
Every family must have one--*******.
But how the **** do you deal with them?

Doing what any rational person would do.
We turn to Google.
---there is some really stupid advice out there.
For example: You’re better than them.
“Walk away and they will know that they are not worth your time”.

Well that’s nice, but you can’t just walk away from the woman who birthed you.
Toleration keeps the household turning.
I am capable of treating the “Sick”
Yes--I can ******* vent.
But how is it okay, I live a wonderful life away from home,
and have come back every six months to be poisoned by those I love.

Sorry, I probably forgot to pack patience in my travel-on.
There are only so many times I can remind myself I love you.
There is no getting past your ardor or your diligence at being difficult.
There is no meditation here. There is no silence. There is no peace-
I know--you aren’t willing to change.
But I don’t know how much more I can take...
That’s something I don’t think I want to know, just yet.