:::popping head up from behind the newspaper:::
Hi again and thanks to all for your kind but firm advice. I do see the value in communicating on a deeper level with her in order to see if something can be salvaged. It’s tough to think about hearing the downsides to being friends with me, things that I might need to change. It’s been easier to avoid all that and keep her at arm’s length, right? 
As always, I appreciate the honesty and tough love.
I’m thinking that although 90+% of what we communicate is conveyed through everything OTHER than the words, I might take the above advice to write something out vs. try to say it without falling apart or saying it wrong, as we are wont to do. At least as an opener, so she has a chance to recover from the shock of sudden revelation and re-opening of the wounds we both have.
Peace, and thanks to all again!
Abby
P.S. Sheesh, Robbo- that buffed-up squirrel avatar of yours is going to star in my next recurrent “the rodents are after me” nightmare!! :^)
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