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Note to Tom Grubbs about his dog, January 1978
1-2-78
Tom,
Be be responsible at the cottage for shaking out Trixie’s blanket outside about twice a week and maybe hanging on line for sun to get to – to be sure fleas aren’t around. Probably good to put in laundry about every 2 weeks.
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EE-1-G-10
Tom Grubbs on plans for Tim Stoen
Dad, I would be willing to assassinate Tim Stoen and be disavowed before the act could be completed. Government could be notified shortly after I would leave Jonestown. It would then appear as a lone assassination not a conspiracy.
Tom Grubbs
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EE-1-G-24
Letter to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs, January 1978
[Editor’s note: This letter was typed in all capital letters.]
1-23-78
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
Subject: School responsibilities and silent weapons training priority.
In view of the recent priority stated by you for training of silent weapons, it will be necessary for me to allot a time during the day in order to get this accomplished, however, it will mean that I will have to be absent from teachers meeting (elementary school) from 5:00-6:00 and sometimes 6:30 or 6:45 P.M. I will speak to Pat Grunnet today to inquire as to the possibility of her rearranging her supervision of children at the cottage in order that she might take over the leadership in teachers meeting, except for Tuesdays and Saturdays which are people’s rally nights and the students who are recommended for Learning Crew are discussed on those nights. It is the general opinion of the teachers that my presence is greatly needed in teachers meeting, however, we also realize the priority of proper training for silent weapons for security purposes.
Other related information:
I hope that Ken Norton [brother Dick Grubbs] is designated to purchase the new archery equipment. Further, Ken is also an archer, has also taught archery as an occupation and has shot tournament and hunted. He also has experience with blow gun and slingshot though not cross bow.
It is my belief that he would be a real asset to the training of the silent weapons team. However, Ken has a passport problem. He stole thousands of dollars worth of supplies from the USN (U.S. Navy). They have no statute of limitations and he believes they have been trying to find him. For this reason, he has nothing registered in his name and has no driver’s license. He is warry of trying to get a passport thinking that would be one way he could be located.
My statement:
I enjoy archery, enjoy teaching it, believe we can train a “crackshot” team for security, hunting and as a competitive sport perhaps. Besides tournament archery, I have done trick archery. Both Ken and I have been filmed several times doing trick archery. At some future date, an exhibition may serve our purposes.
Of course, meat on the table is the most immediate and practical consideration, if I could arrange practice sessions from 5:00-6:00 nightly and hunt from 6:00 til dark along the windrows and trails I believe we could bring in game. Perhaps Sunday could be allocated to hunting or bow fishing for the full day and further from our clearing.
We can begin cross bow training as soon as we can build a target Matt packed dense enough to stop the cross bow [handwriting: bolts]. We will begin working on it tomorrow, Tuesday.
/s/ Tom Grubbs
Tom Grubbs
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EE-1-G-43
Undated note to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: A Past Revelation
While in the Navy I attended Damage Control school – a course to teach shipman how to control or minimize ship structural damage prevent or control flooding caused by punctured or collapsed bulkheads, or broken water mains.
The course included training in ingenuity to use all available resources while thousands of gallons of water was rushing through walls and hatches.
That course and others I had in the Navy involved fire fighting methods appropriate for class A, B, C fire types, use of straight stream spray, mist or fog and foam, as well as chemical firefighting agents
You had revelation about this about 5 years ago and told me to remind you of this as it would one day be important.
As we are getting a ship, this may be the timing that is important either to train our own crew in Damage Control techniques or for me to be a seaman on the ship for a while.
I would believe we should at least stock the ship with a supply of materials needed in emergencies and teach a crew how to use them.
Tom Grubbs
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EE-1-G-52
Undated note from Tom Grubbs regarding The Box
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: Behavior Modification
Regarding the physical facility needed for the value substitution program.
It should not be too large, rather 7’-8’ long, 4’-5’ wide, 5’-6’ high. It should be dark, light-tight, have very good ventilation, and be located as far from extranious sound or be sound proof. (could be built from a large shipping crate) The unit should include a [“soft” crossed out] matress [“(preferable)” crossed out].
The theme idea is to deprive all sensation as much as possible.
Monitor’s Time
For the first 2 days the monitor needs to keep a check every 3 hours on the subject, but no communication. 3rd day the monitor should [“be” crossed out] keep close check on the subject – hourly to constant but no communication.
By the end of the 3rd day (usually) the second phase is initiated. Short communications disparage all selfish, capitalistic behavior characteristics specifically. Communications should be 10-30 seconds long and not more often than once an hour. Statements need to be carefully thought out
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for clearity, brevity, emotional and intellectual impact. At this time the monitor does not engage in 2-way conversation at all!
Beginning about 30 hours after the onset of hallucinations, the substitution phase is initiated and with it the first 2-way communication. Exchanges are brief about once an hour – at first becomming more frequent and slightly longer in duration as the program proceeds but dependent on the progress of the subject.
This is a very heavy responsibility and requires much intense thought and analysis in the later stages. It is best done by one person though 2 persons may work as well. Much intense time needed by monitor the last 3 days and nites.
My studies never mentioned any of the subjects as going insane, but that they did pass through disorientation and reorientation and that it took nearly a week to appear “normal” after the experience.
I recognize the imparative for success as a failure that escaped back to capitolism could cause considerable difficulty.
In order for me to monitor such a program, I should be suspended from other responsibilities for the last 3 days at least. Careful [“note” crossed out] observations, notes and analysis should make important contributions to future programs and aberrent behavior study, and rehabilitation programs.
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EE-1-G-54
Undated personal note from Tom Grubbs
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: Personal Report
- Things I have stolen since I have been in Jonestown include
- Bananas – last time was about August
- Some of the candy given to the children as treats. Probably 20 pieces over a period of about a month. The last time was either August or September.
- Elitism: I shared parts of two soursops stolen from the orchard by Mike Lund while he was spraying the trees.
- I have asked for and recieved bread loaf ends (heels) while the sandwich makers were making sandwiches. I have done this probably 18 times over the past 4 months usually when I went to the kitchen for snacks, though not only then.
- I also asked for and recieved a sandwich about 1 1/2 weeks ago when I worked past midnight.
- I have also accepted and eaten Hot Sauce made by Chuck Beikman though not given out through the kitchen.
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Apology and analysis
I am sorry that last evening I raised my hand to vote not to send Jair Baker to Learning Crew. However, I am more sorry that I earned disaproval and a rebuke.
Why
I deliberated on the choice picking up in your projection that it was not just an ordinary question. However, you had given him clemency with the warning that if you heard one more negative report you would send him. I interpreted this to mean if he acted badly again he would be sent. I believed the last charge read to refer to a behavior that occurred before you gave him clemency, therefore chose to “believe” you had stated clemency for that behavior also.
I noted your tone and dropped my hand. Then recalled the discussion of Jair’s improved work performance in school from high school teachers’ meeting. I raised my hand again.
By this time your manner caused me to believe I was making a mistake and started to drop my hand again when you admonished us to hold them high enough to be clearly seen.
Behind my words – motives I have for a long time been aprehensive about dicipline and how it would affect me. – selfish cover my ass.
This motive is less applicable now that I coordinate the teacher’s meeting which recommends students to that type of dicipline.
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In fact, many times I have wanted to get on learning crew for a few days so I could follow directions and escape for a while from decission making, and supervising and coordinating.
Generally, however, the motive to give leniency hoping to get leniency is in my mind, particularly when verbal or physical violence is used or threatened.
Generally – I sometimes am confused on how to respond. In the situation do you want to see how well we have been listening to what you have said, How is our sense of Justice, should I be supportive of the diciplineary firm line at all times.
I do see the principle that you must be the loving one and caring one as you are the only loving one and must assume the stern role so much.
Further, I recognize the firmness, authoritarian manner as a necessary means in the process to substantially change physical, mental/moral/social conditions, so that each will be more in tune to the needs of all humanity and caring will become the norm rather than the singular exception.
I will be supportive of the more demanding choice and allow you to show what needs to be shown in each situation.
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EE-1-G-62
Undated request to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
I request to be out of service tonight from 7:30 until about 10:30 to:
- clean and sharpen surgical tools
- attempt repair of the video playback unit
May teachers work on a project making educational materials at a table in the
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side section of the Pavillion. We got a lot accomplished the last time.
Tom Grubbs.
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EE-1-G-65
Undated note to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs regarding sex
To: Father
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: Sex Interest
Females I find sexually interesting in order of desireability:
- Sandy Bradshaw
- Laura Johnson [Johnston]
- Carolyn Looman
Each has positive attitude, self assurance is pleasant and gentle in manner. I am not attracted to domineering women or clinging vine dependant women. I noted the above are all white. Probably because I disliked the strangling dependences that Luna Buckley and Bea Orsot tried to establish. Also the fact of racism that I feel uneasy deeling with the intensity of racial feelings engendered in the US.
Males for which I have fondness, homosexual “kinship” in order of amount of pleasure I derive from fellowship:
- Ken Norton
- Donny Cassanova [Casanova]
- Richard Janero [Janaro]
- Darren Janero [Janaro]
Mike Carter - Davis Soloman
Again, mostly white. There are several black brothers I respected a lot but do not seek fellowship with: Lee Ingram, Jim McElvane, Archie Ijames, Johnie Jones.
I have had many opportunities for homosexual relations with Temple members. While sharing a bed during weekend meeting trips Don Beck, Mike Kelley (Anita’s X-husband) both made unmistakeable advances. Ed (that stayed with Touchettes) tried for a long time to talk me into a sexual relationship. The only male I have had sexual exchange is Ken Norton when we were children. I have, however contemplated homosexual activity on many occassions and recognize it as a part of my make-up.
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My sexuality most of my life has been with animals, largely because of my “inferiority complex” and fear of rejection. Animals are quite direct with no games – they either will or will not be part of the sexual activity.
Yes, I do occassionally still desire sex. But, I do not want a relationship. If I had a situation in which I could fuck when I desired it but didn’t have to play games, committ emotional dependencies, I would enjoy it. But based on past problems fucken isn’t worth the trouble.
I like to screw, I like to kiss pussy, enjoy watching others fuck, but I do not enjoy being sucked much and I don’t want anything up my ass. Fantasies that really turn me on are women masturbating, using dildos, women homosexual activity, and women having sex with animals particularly dogs and donkeys or horses.
I enjoy screwing much more when I can see. I find the visual aspect quite stimulating.
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Undated Memo to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs
EE-2-f-5b
[Editor’s note: The numerous spelling and grammatical errors in this note have been corrected.]
[Handwritten notation at top of page: “This is not necessarily important – no rush. Tom Grubbs”]
To: Dad
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: Thoughts about Ricky Johnson
The incident of Ricky Johnson has been the stimulus for a lot of thought for me. As result I see some things I did not formerly see, see some things different than I formerly saw them, and have organized some formerly disorganized thoughts.
First, I am very sorry then I made the scene that I made about 1 1/2 months ago when I made a lot of rash and selfish statements. I am also sorry that I had seriously considered deserting. I really did not believe that you care as much and as deeply as you evidenced yesterday. I listened very closely to all of your remarks over the PA and analyzed your intent and methods. I believe that you really do care deeply.
Regarding Ricky Johnson
First, I believe that sex is important and is a fundamental motivator or drive in most people’s lives. However, I do not believe that it is necessarily the most important. Instead, I believe more like Jung that the primal drive is to be secure and accepted by significant others as being of value to them. In my case, and in other cases that I have closely observed, I found that sex drive very closely with the person’s feelings about this acceptance.
In the mixed-up mind of the emotionally disturbed person suffering from feelings of inadequacy, insufficiency, inferiority, in failure the person has strongly ambivalent feelings – a strong need for affirmation that he/she it is unequivocally accepted and that acceptance must be demonstrated intimately, physically and continually. The reasons for this are that the emotional state is the primal or first state of awareness of the young child. It is linked with the period of life when the child had little command of language and thus when the person regresses or reverts to that emotional level he/she may well regress to the level when they did not have the command of language and thus have difficulty verbalizing. Much research indicates that when people relive sequences of a traumatic nature that occurred before ability to verbalize, they are subject to the same limits on expression that they had then. This may account for why people often do not want to talk about it – they feel that they cannot translate accurately their feelings. I believe this is largely true of Ricky.
As his teacher for about 4 months I noticed many things: he has a very poor educational background, feels dumb, stupid, inadequate and tries to cover these feelings in several ways. He plays the clown, the wise guy, the funny guy as a cover. No one expects a clown
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to be serious – it is not part of the role. But, people don’t think that while the clown makes everyone else laugh, he may be crying inside. He doesn’t do it because he really wants to, he has to, it is part of the role. To be accepted he must play the role. But the bind remains that people are too busy enjoying the clown to understand him.
But, that too is part of both the cause and effect. The clown is afraid to let people too close, they might see behind the mask – we might see all if the fears, the anxieties, the inadequacies that are common to all but not perceived as common to all. So now we are coming round-circle.
As a teenager I really wanted to be a clown. I watched all of the clown types around me. I watched many of them and I watched them close. I discovered that most of them felt more like crying than laughing most of the time. Indeed they prostituted themselves, sacrificed their last vestige of self-respect for approval and acceptance. (I am knowingly over dramatizing for emphasis). I have seen Vincent Lopez indoor all manner of degradation and humiliation for the laugh that he interpreted as acceptance. I believe that I have seen this to some extent from Ricky also.
His hip-jive talk is compensation for his lack of education. But who analyzes it as such – it is just part of his personality expression, right – wrong. But, who expects the clown and hip-cat to sp[eak the “Kings” English. It is not part of his “script.”
So he started out to be a clown to hide his inadequacies, fears, insecurities, real or imagined and got “boxed in”. People tend to hold him in that role and he is afraid to get out because at least he knows this “script” and how to manipulate the interpersonal relationships – accept in the area of meaningful communications.
I am suggesting that Ricky has a very low or poor image of himself. The rejection of his mom in her “cutting him down” and “tearing him up” verbally that was referred to in the meeting has made him super sensitive to rejection. This becomes one of the basics of the Don Juan complex: can’t stay too long with any one woman because she will find him out… see through or behind his mask … see him as he sees himself and reject him. So the Don Juan rejects to preclude rejection, a protective device, but it makes impossible the kind of relationship that is fulfilling. People who are afraid of rejection are afraid to give too much, to invest too much because the hurt seems to be proportional to the investment. If much is given or invested and the rejection still occurs, the other party must have seen somehow all of or some of the faults that were hidden. (I am sorry I am having such a hard time expressing this, I can feel it can identify with it clearly, but I am having a hell of a time expressing it.) Everything seems so relating to everything else then I just can’t seem to express it linearly.)
Considering how I believe Ricky views himself intellectually, educationally, mentally, and emotionally, it seems reasonable that he would emphasize his physique as he believes
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it to be his best feature. But, his physique and sex become confused. If he parades his best feature he is being sexy or is selling himself as a sexy person. But, at some point he will be called to “put up, or shut up”. I believe that the impotence that Cindy spoke of bothers him a great deal because he sees it not as a manifestation of his anxiety, but emphasis that he is TOTALLY IMPOTENT, and all areas. But, the person who believes he has very little of merit also believes he can not afford to give up what little he believes he has. The less one believes he has, the last he can afford to give up. (This is from the non-socialist perspective).
Generalization
In some of the areas I wrote of I believe all non-socialist/communists are described. I believe that ego can not be taken away from anyone, and it cannot be suppressed without consequences, unless it is sacrificed by the person himself. Unfortunately the sickly, poorly formed and twisted egos are the most troublesome. They are also the ones that the person can not afford to give up. A person will only willing integrate his ego [word crossed out: “willingly”] when it becomes healthy, when he feels he has enough positive attributes that he can afford, to integrate. The situation is not hopeless, but I believe that they need to be encouraged, valued, given opportunities to discovertheir value for themselves as a major part of the therapy. I believe that people do not believe that anyone can regard them more highly then they regard themselves for long.
The other alternatives that works sometimes, but not reliably is for persons to develop concern or empathy for others even less fortunate are perceived to be less fortunate. [Interlinear insertion: “very poorly stated. Does not communicate my thoughts.”] However, the beginning stages are safer if they are vicarious and the personal relationship is not intimate.
Unfortunately I see education or the lack of it as deeply involved in the view most people (particularly young people) have about themselves. I have watched Keith and Stanley Wright, David Goodwin, Vincent Touchette [could be Vincent Lopez], Jerry Wilson (Baisey), Marcus Anderson, Ronnie Dennis, Garnette [Garnet] Johnson as some of the youth that have received so much failure feedback from their educational misadventures that it has seriously eroded their sense of value with the result that they develop a mask or cover. They get cast in some superficial role such as the clown, the tough, the daredevil, etc. In twelve years of teaching I have seen a lot of this and feel very responsible to detect, prevent and correct these problems.
For most youth, I feel that the best therapy is to provide good education with REAL value and REAL* POSITIVE feedback to serve as the foundation for a healthy sense of value. [Note at bottom of page for asterisk: “as opposed to symbolic word/phrase feedback. They need something they can evaluate and value.]” (Many of our youth do not aspire to leadership or responsibility because they believe they do not have the skills that the task will demand, and they cannot fulfill the requirements that they will fail, will be rebuked for failure or ridiculed)
However, I believe that some of the youth that will not be reached by education need some counseling that DEMONSTRATES that people do understand them. Not admonitions and advice, but helping the person express how he/she feels, therapist making inferences [two lines bracketed come up with note “good, mature”]
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“guessing” how the person feels about situations that concern the person. Sometimes the thing that most impresses a person being counseled is when the therapist or counselor can verbalize how the counselee feels better that he can do for himself. Most people do not and can not really believe that someone else really loves or cares unless first they know that they are REALLY UNDERSTOOD. Most counselors want too much to give advice. They would do much better to start if they would demonstrate concern and interest first by listening and feeding back, providing the counselee a belief that he is understood and still accepted. “I have doubt that you really accept me so long as I have a deep dark secret that I am afraid to let you know about, but am afraid he will find out and reject me for”. Also, I believe we need some small group counseling so that youth can find that they are not really not different or “worse” than others, they just see and know their faults better.
I will quit. This was not meant to be pedantic. I do not mean to assume I am able to teach or lecture. I can’t seem to be brief. The more I think the more things seem related to other things and I can’t represent a spider’s web as a straight line of print. So I will stop. This may be just a gross waste of your time anyway. I’m not even sure that I did what I started out to do.
Note: Peter Wotherspoon was told in a meeting in Dr. Schacht’s office nearly a year ago that he could talk to me when he feels he needs someone to talk to. Before proceeding I desire to know if that is still acceptable or agreeable to you. Please respond to this question. [Last sentence circled, with marginal note: “Dad said ok.”]
Tom Grubbs
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Undated Memo to Jim Jones from Tom Grubbs
EE-2-f-11a
To: Dad, Mom [Marceline Jones], Phyllis Bloom [Chaikin], Judy Ijames
From: Tom Grubbs
Re: Therapy Report
David Chaikin, Report on Vision
About 3 weeks ago I was asked by Mother to examine David’s eyes and evaluate his visual problems. I did so and am able to report the following.
David has hypophoria of the left eye characterized by approximately 4″ inclination above horizontal when right (master) eye is at rest focused straightforward. The visual effect is quite similar to looking in a cracked mirror in which one part is out of plane alignment with the other. Maintaining binocular fusion required more than usual effort and became more difficult when he was tired, tense (under stress) or bored.
Near point focus was not possible closer than 12″ at which point the image became double.
David had noticeable inefficiency of ocular muscle coordination and control. It was not possible for him to make smooth, fluid sweeping movements across any plane. Instead, his movements were jerky and erratic. When reading, he over-moved his eyes frequently and established the new fixation too far to the right necessitating a regression to locate his proper place. This problem was observed at a rate of once in four lines, enough to disturb continuity and comprehension.
David’s most frustrating problem occurred on his return-left sweep to begin a new line. Frequently his sleep did not drop to the next line. As a result, he re-read most of the same line before recognizing his error. At times he made as many as three attempts before locating the new line which was sometimes done with the aid of his finger. I was able to study this problem with the aid of a mirror while he was reading. I found that it occurred an average of twice a paragraph and near the middle of the paragraph. Again the result was a disturbance in continuity and comprehension and an increase in frustration. The frustration and tension in turn promoted temporary myopia (nearsightedness, a common result of tension).
His eyes at right or left extreme tremored noticeably and the eye opposite the direction of extreme was prone to break-away or dart under the strain after about 4 seconds.
David exhibited a very slow visual recognition as measured by a tachistoscope. When therapy began his accuracy rate for recognition of 3 digit numbers at 1/2 second was an average of 77%.
APPRAISAL NOW
After 3 weeks of visual therapy I am pleased to report the following:
David’s pursuit tracking behavior is much more fluid and free. There is seldom a continuation after the target is stopped. He can accurately track complicated patterns at moderate speeds (movements requiring coordination of all 6 ocular muscles).
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His eyes will hold a position of extreme side vision with noticeable tremor only after 12-15 seconds, free of erratic eye darting.
He can maintain binocular fusion at near-point focus as close as 7″ an improvement of 5 inches, a significantimprovement.
His visual recognition speed has approved from 77% accuracy at 1/2 second to 93% accuracy at 1/100 of a second recognizing 4 digit numbers.
He has increased breadth of visual field so as to identify 2 digits separated by 14 spaces separation at a rate of 1/00 sec. with better than 90% accuracy.
He is able to solve maze puzzles by eye tracking without reference from a finger, line or pencil. Is speed and accuracy has improved though I will not have any statistical information for several days as I just today began timing him with a stopwatch.
REMARKS:
I am confident that through visual therapy daily can achieve better-than-average visual tracking and perception skills without the prismatic since the ophthalmologist prescribed for his hyperphoria.
However, the real testimony of progress is David himself. He can tell the improvement and is inspired to continue. He is an eager subject.
I desire to continue the study of ophthalmology. I recently studied a very good book which projected that all refractive visual problems can be corrected through therapy. I have been applying the concepts outlined in the book and am pleased with the results I am having correcting my myopic astigmatism. I am encouraged that it may well offer a very real alternative to the expense of eyeglasses, which at best are not as good as natural vision.
I am also studying the book, Major Audiometric Measurements. I believe that we can do more than diagnose hearing problems. I believe that with therapy many non-neurosensory problems can be at least partly remediated. I have already proven beyond any doubt (to myself) that listening skills can be taught-learned and can compensate for hearing deficiencies which cannot be remediated without hearing aids.
However, I am having a very difficult time finding enough time to study.
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Note to Bea Orsot from Tom Grubbs
Written 9-10-78
Bea,
By way of explanation, I’m not angry or upset with you. I’m sorry you get the brunt of it when you are not the cause.
The cause is the same old cause – Too damn many meetings. I don’t want to drag anyone in all my rebellion, don’t see any alternatives that are acceptable, do not believe that talking can do any good, I just generally feel totally alienated from everyone when I get like this.
I know that I am not fair to you. If you desire to terminate this relationship (?), I will not protest. I don’t expect you to get caught up in my bum-trips.
Tom