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• 43-1) Yes, that description really surprised me. It sounded like Casey, not Pat. I've always envsioned Pat to be the kinder, gentler brother who tried his best to work within the laws to see some justice done for the impoverished people of Belfast. In another city, another life, I'm not sure we would have seen the savage side of Pat, but brutal circumstances have brought out something that may otherwise have remained dormant. (43-2) I think David crossed the line here. Pat is a prisoner, not David's friend, although David has shown him a great deal of kindness at a risk to himself. I can't help but compare this scene to Ardsmuir prison when LJG makes the mistake of touching Jamie in an intimate way. In this case, Jamie's reaction is largely based on memories of his rape at the hands of BJR, but Pat has no such history, that I know of, to make him cringe from a homosexual. That leads me to believe that Pat could not, would not forget he was a prisoner under British control. (NT) -- Denise, 14:33:04 09/27/07 Thu
  • I don't think he could ever forget where he was and just who was in control. It's also a violation of his personal space and perhaps he feared that David was going to try offer him further favours for sex. It may also simply have been the need to release tension and stress. We're also talking about a very different time, as well, when homosexuality was not as open and accepted as it is today (and given the number of hate crimes against gays and the insults still bandied about among young men in particular, I'd argue we still have a long way to go). (NT) -- Carla, 14:50:06 09/27/07 Thu
    • It's not that (the homosexual angle) it's that David has step over the boundaries Pat has erected to keep himself emotionally, mentally and physically while incarcerated. He's tortured while in there, so he has to keep the essence of himself safely tucked away. And yes, there is raw and barely leashed savagery in Pat, he fights it, but it's there. Increasingly the events in his life are making it harder and harder to keep this side of himself in check. (NT) -- celtgirl, 15:23:13 09/27/07 Thu
      • I think to some degree it lurks in all of us. And when pushed hard enough it comes out as a survival mechanism. (NT) -- JaneH, 14:55:46 09/28/07 Fri

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• 44-1) Pamela must come to terms with her motivation and forgive herself before she can ever make accept forgiveness from Casey and feel comfortable in her own skin. (44-3) Pamela and Jamie have a very special relationship. They understand each other completely without needing the reinforcement of intimacy. They are soulmates in my opinion (but we know what I think about her choice of husband!). Can a person be so intrinsically linked to two people? It seems so here. Jamie knows what Pamela needs, asks no questions and expects nothing in return. Often marital relationships are a lot more complicated, expectations are defined in some way, there are more constraints. Jamie and Pamela have a certain freedom in that regard and maintain an intimacy that transcends a physical resolution. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Or letting my admiration for Jamie take me too far? (NT) -- Denise, 14:48:48 09/27/07 Thu
  • No, not taking it too far, Denise, I would agree with this summation actually. There are less constraints with Jamie, no expectations etc. Therefore she can, at times, be a bit freer about her feelings than she is with Casey. There are still things to lose, but the relationship has very different parameters. (NT) -- celtgirl, 14:52:07 09/27/07 Thu
    • Thanks, Cindy. I feel I may not always think rationally (and objectively) where Jamie is concerned *g*. (NT) -- Denise, 15:04:17 09/27/07 Thu
      • He's every bit as important to me as Casey is, Denise- so we're on the same page. :) (NT) -- celtgirl, 15:27:01 09/27/07 Thu
        • Well that's just grand to hear! What can I say, I have an emotional attachment to that boyo that is a bit beyond reason! (NT) -- Denise, 17:21:57 09/27/07 Thu
          • That is exactly what I like best, readers with emotional attachments slightly beyond reason to my boyos. :) (NT) -- celtgirl, 11:52:42 09/28/07 Fri

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• Thanks, Carla, for doing a great job with the questions. :) (NT) -- celtgirl, 16:14:18 09/27/07 Thu
  • Ditto for me. Great job, Carla! (NT) -- Denise, 17:23:41 09/27/07 Thu
  • You're welcome, woman. Not hard to do with such great material. (NT) -- Carla, 19:28:06 09/27/07 Thu
    • YES Carla, I'm late...but Thank You lass!!! You always do a great job with questions. I've been a little absent this week but I'll make up for it. (NT) -- Marilyn, 19:46:06 09/27/07 Thu
  • Carla! Wonderful job with the thought-provoking questions. (NT) -- Tracy, 15:43:54 09/28/07 Fri

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• 44.1) Wow, just saw this question and what a great question it is - I think you can ask, you can hope to be forgiven, you might even carry on as normal once another person has forgiven you...but...I don't think you are really at peace with yourself until you make peace with your sin/action and learn to forgive yourself. (NT) -- Marilyn, 19:50:10 09/27/07 Thu
  • Totally agree. It's impossible to put those feelings on the shelf when you're still holding them so close. There are some things for which one can never forgive oneself, but must simply live with on a daily basis. This might prove to be one of those things. As usual, Carla, great questions. Sorry that the last two days I've been a little preoccupied with things around here to participate fully, but have really enjoyed pondering your questions and reading the responses. Will be joining in again sometime after October 9. (NT) -- Elaine (), 04:25:45 09/28/07 Fri
    • I leave on the exact day you arrive home. (NT) -- celtgirl, 08:06:36 09/28/07 Fri
      • I come back the day after Elaine, what a busy place this is! All I can say is thank goodness for archives*g* (NT) -- Sheila, 17:36:33 09/28/07 Fri

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• 44.2) I wasn't surprised no, she obviously had a hard time making that choice according to her talk with Father Kevin. So, I'm not surprised it's still haunting her. (NT) -- Marilyn, 08:39:17 09/28/07 Fri

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• 44/4 - What is that saying about keeping your enemies close??? And I did think she was living a bit dangerously there. How she could go to work for the very people who have hurt her and her family so badly makes me question her motives and sanity (NT) -- JaneH, 14:59:41 09/28/07 Fri