I finally was able to go visit him about two and a half months after he was there. That was really hard not seeing him for so long, and sometimes he couldn't even call. That was really hard, not seeing or being able to talk to him. Right now, we get to visit, actually they are called "family sessions" and I will talk about that later. Our visit is once a week for an hour, and we get to walk outside or sit under a shade tree for twenty or thirty minutes. Having Dales arms around me is so wonderful. I feel so safe around him and so important.

Sometimes you think of separation as a bad thing, but it hasn't been for us. Yes, it is hard, very HARD, but it has only brought us closer together. Our marriage is stronger now than ever, that and Dale's recorvery is the biggest positives that have come from this whole ordeal. We have had a lot to deal with in the past year, that's how long he's been gone. Getting Dale's recovery started has been one of the biggest things, and along with that I was diagnosed as manic depressive. Just the depressive part has been very hard to deal with without Dale.

His recorvery is coming along very well. Sometimes I think this whole program he is in is very weird, especially his "counselor". I was told by his "counselor" that until I went to Alanon, Dale could not be realeased to our home. This appalled me! I was told I had an un-fit home and that I was un-fit. This is when I went over the edge with my depression. To top all of that off I have now been told I'm using my illness to "emtionally blackmail" and "control". Apparently, Dale's "counselor" doesn't understand Bipolar Disorder!

Back to Dale's recovery: Dale is and has been for the past year working his 12 step program. I am very proud of him and can hardly wait until the day he gets to come home for good!!!