>though, damn man--take a compliment :)

Ha. Point taken.

>handle, yes. handle well? that's i think what i was trying to
>get at.

>no doubt. it's an interesting abstract debate. it might also
>have to do with how situations get sprung on people--you've
>been handling this for a long time.

Good point.

>but if all of that fell on
>my lap right now, even with all of the privilege and status
>and success i have (that didn't sound dickish at all, did it?
>but hopefully you know what I mean)

LOL nah man I get you.

>I'd probably be handling
>it much worse than you are. bottomline, while I see what
>you're saying and you very well may be right, and it's good to
>be humble, it's also ok to be proud of doing as much as you
>are doing.

I suppose you've got a point there. I used to be pretty prideful about it. It got to be pretty obnoxious and two things happened:

1. I lost all empathy for others in some sort of struggle, because my mentality was nearing that "Oh yeah? Think that's bad? Fuck your 'struggle', here's mine.

2. Whenever people share, say, a Christmas story and it's my turn, I got nothing. Oh happy childhood memories? Nope. All I really got are those really, really fucked up stories that suck the air and joy right out of the room.

That said, I've made an effort to try to keep on the humble on the subject. You're right though, there is a balance. I think when the abnormal becomes normal, you (erm, I) tend to lose perspective on both ends.

Peace to you and yours though.