I am in awe of all of you.
GFN, your story was just wonderful to read. I can't add to what everyone else has already told you except to say yes yes yes to all of it, and also ---do you know how much it means to see someone handling one of these creatures with poise and detachment and class--?!! It gives us a model, and hope.
Bunny I wish to heaven I could adapt as you do. I can't keep it in place though, in terms of how I'm supposed to respond to this one vs. that one, so I just pull back. How do you find the ability to go sit inside yourself, keep doing what you know you need to do, and remember the right lines for each creep you have to deal with? I wish I could.
Vunil, I am really glad that you got validation (someone else's words but perfect, so I'm plagiarizing them!). You deserve good things...
Stormchild