I've always been an Eeyore kind of girl, but it's gotten worse since my Pop died this November. Logically, I know it's a normal part of grieving, but I just want to stay home and cry. And read.

I read all of your posts, The Band. Even when Pop was in the hospital fighting for his life, this is the site that I came to read. I read all of your stories. I remember skipping over the 9/11 stories because there were so many I felt overwhelmed.

Now both of my parents are gone, and I still feel overwhelmed. All of a sudden, I'm a homeowner. I liken it to being in an abusive relationship - I'm going to have to put up with all this crap from this man (house), send him to prison, pay for his stay in prison (homeowner's insurance), and then go pick him up - only to get beat again - flooding, septic tank, new flooring, whatever the latest problem may be.

I was in an abusive relationship. Twice, in fact. I was stalked for a while in the 90's. He was involved in drugs and Lord knows what else, and I, well, I wasn't. The stalker called me last year and I told him "I can't deal with your stuff. It's too much for me. My Pop just died. I wish you well, but I can't be part of this."

His birthday was last week. I found out on his birthday that he was murdered. I don't know how to process that I know someone who has been murdered. Shot in the chest. I don't have any delusions that I could have saved him or that I should have done more, but I remember the funny guy that I knew in high school before the drugs and the jail and it makes me sad. Murdered?

In three years, I have lost both parents and now one ex-boyfriend.

I'm overwhelmed with the sads.