Is "Life" just a game???  Is it the game of "Life" or is it a "Chess Board"?  Seems to me, that it may be a little of both.  There is a certain individual that uses a "Chess Board" to play this game.  She moves the pieces around to suit her fancy.  Once you have outlasted your usefullness to her, she just knocks you off the Board...  She talks trash about you to cover her own insecurities.  And her justification.  She uses people for what she needs and demands loyality.  Well, loyality and respect are things that are earned and not automatic.  She preaches "Harm None" and then turns around and does exactly that.  Or has someone else do her bidding for her.  She has no real concept of what loyality really is.  Seems anyone that has been around and is truly loyal, gets the boot from her "Empire".  Why do you think that is???  Could it be that she doesn't want anyone around her to have any other opinion than hers??  Have any other interests than her???  Acutally have a "Life" without her???   If this is the case than it is very sad.  She given many things over the course of her Life to many people and that we are the better for, but at this stage in her Life you would think she would want to surround herself with those that are truly there for her and not what they expect to get from her.  She has been very generous to people and some are very grateful, there are also those that expect something from her in return for their so called loyality.  They expect to be paid for their services.  This is also part of "Life".  There are those with their own agenda and are just waiting for the "Golden Ring".  The keys to the Castle if you like.  Well, reality check people, there is no "Golden Ring" and no Castle..  That is certainly what it is "NOT" about.  I have to say when I first met her, and she was in a desperate state and needed help, I didn't  think twice about "Who" she was;  I saw an elderly woman in need of friends and help with a life changing situation.  It made me very sad to see her like that.  She had given so much to so many over the years how could it come to this?  Over the next year or so, I found out how it did.  We busted our butts to get things done for her.  Worked many a day and night (way into the night) to help her through this.  Not because we had to, because for some of us, we wanted to and expected nothing in return but to see her safe.  And that we did...  Believe me it was not all doom and gloom.  We had many a night of laughter, story telling, education and a blast...  There was many a night we would work our butts off and then I would just sit there and listen to her way into the night (morning if you will) and then make the hour drive home, go to bed, get up at 5:30am, go work and then go back to  continue on.  Why did I do this, because I wanted to.  Not because I had to.  I acutally thought I was helping her.  I saw sides of this woman I never thought existed.  After all, she is human like the rest of us.  Even now when I think of some of the great times we all had I smile.  There were also times, we would butt heads..  Two Pisces that are strongly opinionated, could prove a challenge to say the least.  But all and all I felt we had an understanding.  Who would have known what was to come...  Surprise, surprise..   Well that my friends, is how "Life" is.  Good, bad and indifferent.  I do thank her from the bottom of my heart for what she has given me, also the good the bad and the indfferent.  Life's lessons.  If we can all take alittle from what we learn over the years, we will be better for it.  There will always be the question "Why did this happen?" and there is no answer for it.  Things happen for a reason and SoBe It!  I wish for her peace and contentment in the Winter of her Life.  Happy Birthday!    And as always, In Service to the Lord and the Lady!!!