I've lived in Ohio since 9/2005. Before that I spent 15 months hunkered down in a quonset hut on my sister's ranch in Ventura County, CA. Before that, I lived in Long Beach at my house on Faust Ave. for a couple years after my ex walked out in April 2002.

I still am being stalked by one of her "friends" from the "old" days.

Not long ago, after a half-year hiatus, I received another of his ridiculous emails. It assailed me for 1. being angry about her infidelities ("...everybody does it, you know Jon!...") 2. divorcing her ("...that really hurt her, Jon...") even though she promptly moved in with her surfer toy boy, and 3. forcing the sale of our house. In addition, I counted twenty-seven banal curse words in the eight paragraphs of his sophomoric email.

Now this is a guy who fell off his motorcycle fifteen years ago and cracked his skull. So I know from his medical problems that he isn't "right." But still...

I was very friendly with Tom. He and his wife and their two kids came to my house many times when I was alone after the split. I entertained them, cooked for them, got them gifts and enjoyed those times. We drank together, shopped together and talked a lot about the pending divorce. They were the first ones to come forward and tell me about my ex-wife's drug abuse that was completely behind my back.

After the bru-ha-ha at the courthouse when I lost it and blew my cool, and after I went to my computer and announced to everyone on my address book what she had done during our 22 year marriage, they turned on me.

It turns out that they had been her "spies." They were coming to visit in order to report to her what was going on at home. They told her everything. I had proof of that when my ex sued me to cease sending emails to our friends and family. I saw copies of some of my emails and they were addressed to this spying couple.

Over the time he began to stalk me with these profane emails (I wouldn't post even a sentence from them, because I have none anymore to post!) After I moved, his email increased. They included threats and systematically got worse.

So finally, I decided to be the wimp and opened my email preferences. I set his name on the bounce list and no longer will be able to receive Tom's mentally-challenged mails.

I hated to do it because I don't even bounce back spam. I simply trash it. But this is too much of the past that I am trying to put way far behind me. And I don't need to read lies, curses and nut-case mail from ghosts of friendships past. (I have never replied to any of his communications)

So bye-bye. Have a good life. I wouldn't wish anything worse on anyone.

And as they used to shout in Russian over at KGB Headquarters,

"Smerty spionam!"

Look it up.