Message To My Readers

To My Readers,

Before we begin, I want you to know that I'm taking a week off of writing and YouTube.

I also don't care if this post gets a +1 on Google+, over 9 views, or is even shared across the web. I'm just here to write, to vent, and seek solace in the familiar.

So, with that elephant out of sight, here it is.

Between kittens and drama, I'm a little exhausted. The drama, in and of itself, was a shock to my system and I need time to get the facts sorted out before I can continue.

As I'm not one to leave someone hanging when they're anxious for details, I will explain.

A few days ago, a friend of mine in Poplar Bluff, Missouri was arrested for child endangerment as well as child abuse. If you put these words in the Google search box under the News section, you will see the articles that were published, "Michael West, Vanessa May, Missouri, child endangerment".

I can honestly say, between the person I knew him as; the person who was always there for me when I needed support or guidance, a very kind person, and a strong and wise friend; and the person I have seen splashed across the media; the monster who beat a child to the point of torture, kept him in horrid living conditions, and even kept him in a prison like space; I can honestly say that I was blinded, not exactly made the fool, but lied to on a repeated basis, I don't think our friendship can survive this, and if it comes down to it, I will not testify on his behalf, but I will testify on the child's.

At first I was sad at the loss of my friend, because now I'm vulnerable and I don't have that person to talk to when shit hits the fan. Then it was anger and tears, because I had told him time and time again;

1) Do not do anything that is going to make this worse

2) Leave your neighbor alone! Yes, he posted shit about your girlfriend, but that doesn't give you the right to go over there and start anything. (this, by the way, he promptly ignored and was arrested the next day).

3) If CPS comes back, do what they say for you to do and don't argue.

3) Keep your cool at all times.

4) If you can't handle the boy, then send him to a facility that can work with him. Don't punish him because he doesn't know any better.

Everything I said seemed to go in one ear and out the other. He didn't seem to care one way or another whether it brought down everyone else, or if he lost all the progress he'd made over the 5 years I'd known him. All he could see was revenge, and I couldn't talk him out of it.

I had NO idea what he'd done to that boy, their living conditions, her past, any of it. He was my friend, and I never pegged him for anything like that. He'd always done right by his daughter, tried to help people, fix up his house so it was better for everyone, but in the end, I can't ignore the evidence when it's placed right in front of me, and I can't lie for him if it comes down to me having to testify against him. I won't. I have never been able to abide lying, or abuse for that matter. Hence the reason I consider myself an only child with 3 siblings.

I'm taking some time off to assess all of this, try to make heads or tails of the course of action I need to take. I know for certain that I want to help his daughter and the other children, as well as his parents who are now taking care of the kids. They're innocent in all of this, and it's going to be sometime before he gets out. They're going to need any and all help they can get. It's the only right course I know to take right now.

I can't have the same respect for him, if any at all, and I'm not going to sit by and say that nothing will change, because everything has. He's not the person I once knew, or knew in the beginning, if he ever was. The game has changed and I need to end it before it engulfs me with it.

I hope that in some way you understand that I'm not trying to make this situation about me. I'm not closely related, not by blood, marriage, or relationships to those that are. I'm just a person who lost a friend and found out the depth of the deceit along with it.

I just need time to get my head together, and when I get back, I'll be able to produce content again, and be able to write my blogs. '

Until then, my love is still with you all.

But now, I also have a new message.

In this day and age, you need to be careful whom you trust and put your faith it.

On the outside, you see what they put forward and it's in THAT person you put your trust. But under the surface, their true face is hidden, waiting for you to become so careful you let your guard down before it's revealed.

NEVER trust what you see on the outside until you've seen what lies beneath.

Always take their word with a grain of salt, so you don't end up the fool later on.

And, please, if you ever see abuse of any kind, don't be afraid to report it. If I had known, I could have saved that boy a lot of pain.