Shithead and Sarah have been like famiIy to my wife and I for several years, practically ever since we moved in across the street from them. The four of us were extremely tight. Our kids are the same age as theirs and are all good friends. We were one big family unit. We did dinner together a few times a week. We went on vacations together.
I truly saw Shithead as a brother, and my wife and Sarah were very close too.
Five months ago, I was completely blindsided by the discovery of an affair between my wife and Shithead. My wife had left her emaiI open on our computer, and I saw an email from her to her longtime therapist saying that Shithead would be joining her at an upcoming session “again.”
Uh, WTF? My mind started racing – why in the world would Shithead be going to her therapy sessions without my knowledge? I did a search and found some other emails to and from the therapist proving that Shithead had been going to sessions together with her for about six weeks.
I checked our mobile phone account and discovered that, since late summer, they had been exchanging hundreds of texts every day, peaking at nearIy 500/day by the holidays. Speaking of the holidays, my wife and I hosted both of our families (parents, siblings, etc) for both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, and Shithead and Sarah joined us either for dinner or after dinner on both holidays.
Text records showed that the entire time that they were at our house celebrating with our families, my wife and Shithead were texting each other across the room. They were doing that pretty much every time the four of us hung out, for months. And, you know, all day every day just in generaI. But what bothers me the most is that they were doing it with Sarah and I right there.
I confronted my wife with the evidence and she admitted that yes, she and Shithead had fallen in love. “It just happened! I don’t know how! But I love him and I just don’t feeI anything for you anymore, I’m sorry!” They had gone on a school district trip together, something had happened in her hotel room, and things had moved quickly from there. She explained, as I lay face-down on the couch, unable to look at her, that they had already made plans to move out and divorce me and Sarah, and while they didn’t plan to move in together immediately because of the kids, they’d probably do so eventually.
The meetings with the therapist were supposedly mostly for the purpose of finding a way to break this to me and Sarah as gently as possible, because they were so very concerned for our well-being. (Sarah and I are fairly certain that they weren’t pIanning on telling us about the affair at all, and were simply going to “discover” their feelings for one another several months down the line, after they’d come up with some other reason to divorce the two of us.)
My wife moved out two months ago. I was, and still am, utterly destroyed. I cry every day. I cried writing the first few paragraphs of this story just now. I worry non-stop about the impact on our kids. But I am also not exactly a shrinking vioIet when I feel that I’ve been wronged. And in this case I was, objectively, very very wronged.
So, a couple of years ago, Shithead ran for a Board of Education seat as a pretty extreme underdog. I helped him with his campaign materials and debate prep, and my wife, a well-known school district employee (this becomes important later), got the word out as best she couId. Much to our surprise, he actually won in a squeaker, by just a few dozen votes.
Being on the Board became the center of Shithead’s world. He joined every committee that he could. This turned into the foundation of his affair with my wife, as they were constantly going to school events and meetings together on evenings and weekends.
Once I discovered the affair, my thoughts turned pretty quickly to revenge, and it occurred to me that an extramarital affair between a member of the Board of Education and an employee of the school district was at least bad poIitics and possibly vioIated district policy. Making things far worse for them was that my wife was in the running for an open administrative position, and everyone knew that she was more or less guaranteed the job and the major pay raise that came with it. She had just finished her master’s degree in school administration, at the urging of her principal and the superintendent, so that she could be promoted to this specific position.
I had plenty of evidence of the affair – texts from both of them admitting to it, text records showing that they were texting hundreds of times a day, emails to and from the therapist, etc. I considered simply emailing all of the evidence to the Board and the superintendent, but felt like I, as the grieving, betrayed spouse, might not be seen as a credible source.
So instead, I invented a fictitious “furious friend” who was planning on showing up to the next Board meeting and publicly shaming the two of them for their affair. I told my wife that I’d tried to taIk this person down but couldn’t guarantee that they wouldn’t show up and humiliate them publicly. As I expected, this led Shithead to conclude that the only option was for him to preemptively admit the affair to the Board. The superintendent subsequently recommended that Shithead resign, which he did. Sarah said that he was utterly humiliated and crushed, and barely got out of bed for a few days afterward.
Once word of the affair and Shithead’s resignation started getting around, the superintendent (a longtime friend of both my wife and Shithead) contacted my wife and tearfully informed her that it was no Ionger politically appropriate for her to be promoted to an administrative position within the district.
The position that had been lined up for her was later filled by an outside candidate. This sent waves of confusion and rumor throughout the district, as it was pretty well-known that my wife was getting the job. The day after she was informed that she wasn’t getting the promotion, my wife and I, despite our crumbling marriage, took our son out to breakfast together on his birthday, and a parent stopped by our table to congratulate her on her new roIe. She said thanks, then excused herself to go cry in the bathroom for a while.
I let the dust settle for a couple of weeks, and then, right before my wife moved out, let them in on my little secret – there was never a “furious friend” threatening to expose them in the first place. Just me.
Word of all of this has gotten around our fairly small town, which Shithead grew up in and my wife has worked in for nearly 20 years. My wife refuses to taIk to me about how things are at work now, but I’ve heard from some people I know in the district that her formerly spotless reputation has taken a major hit.
Shithead, formerly a gregarious social presence in our neighborhood and at events and pubs in town, has completely gone underground and barely emerges to mow his lawn. He’s moving out soon, to a shitty little townhouse which is all he can afford due to all the child support he’s going to have to pay his wife.
My wife and Shithead claim that they plan on trying to make things work together, despite all the public humiliation. I wish them lots of Iuck with that. I’m sure it will be a lot of fun to show their faces together in town.
‘We Left. As Did LOTS of the Crowd’: Fans Shame Miranda Lambert for Her Behavior at Montana Festival – What Happened?
Country music star Miranda Lambert is no stranger to the spotlight, but her recent performance at the Montana Festival has sparked considerable controversy and disappointment among fans. As videos circulated on social media, many expressed their disillusionment, with some claiming they’ve lost interest in the artist altogether. This incident is not the first time Lambert has faced backlash for her behavior on stage, and it raises questions about the balance between performer and audience.
On July 14, during her set at the Montana Festival, Lambert addressed the crowd in a way that many found off-putting. In a clip shared widely online, she can be seen reprimanding the audience for their apparent lack of attention. “I can see your head is not turned the right way, which is this way,” she declared, pointing to herself as if to remind them where the focus should be.
The crowd’s reaction was mixed; while some fans cheered in support of their favorite artist, others felt uncomfortable and even embarrassed. Many attendees, who had come to enjoy the music, began to leave the venue, disheartened by Lambert’s apparent frustration. The atmosphere shifted dramatically from one of excitement to tension, leaving many wondering if this was the Miranda they had once adored.
Social media erupted in response to the incident. Posts flooded platforms, with many fans expressing their disappointment in Lambert’s behavior. Comments ranged from supportive to critical, with some users stating they felt “disrespected” by her attitude. “I used to love her music, but now I’m questioning if I want to support an artist who treats her fans like this,” one commenter wrote.
This backlash has sparked a broader conversation about celebrity behavior and audience expectations. Fans have increasingly voiced their desire for artists to create an inclusive and positive experience, rather than alienating those who have come to enjoy their performances.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence for Lambert. In the past, she has faced scrutiny for her on-stage demeanor, including instances where her comments and actions have rubbed fans the wrong way. Critics argue that such behavior reflects a growing trend among some artists who may take their success for granted and forget the importance of their audience.
For many fans, music is a sanctuary, a place where they can escape their daily lives and connect with others. When an artist behaves in a way that seems dismissive or condescending, it can shatter that illusion and leave listeners feeling alienated. Lambert’s recent actions have raised concerns that she may not fully appreciate the relationship between artist and fan, which is built on mutual respect and admiration.
As the backlash continues to grow, the question remains: what does this mean for Miranda Lambert’s career moving forward? Many fans are vocal about their discontent, but Lambert has a long-standing career filled with chart-topping hits and a loyal following. However, with the rise of social media, artists are more exposed than ever, and a single misstep can lead to a significant shift in public perception.
It will be interesting to see how Lambert addresses this situation, if at all. Will she acknowledge the backlash and make an effort to mend her relationship with fans, or will she brush it off as just another fleeting controversy? In the fast-paced world of country music, the response to such incidents can often dictate an artist’s trajectory.
This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of celebrity culture. Fans invest emotionally in artists, and when those artists act in a way that feels dismissive, it can lead to a deep sense of betrayal. As the lines between performer and audience continue to blur, it is crucial for artists to recognize their role in shaping the experience of their fans.
Miranda Lambert’s recent actions at the Montana Festival have left many questioning not only her behavior but also the values that underpin the relationship between artists and their supporters. As the dust settles, it remains to be seen whether Lambert will take this opportunity for reflection and growth or whether the controversy will simply fade away, leaving her with a tarnished reputation in the eyes of some fans.
The fallout from the Montana Festival is just one chapter in the ongoing story of Miranda Lambert’s career. While she has captivated audiences with her powerful voice and heartfelt lyrics, her recent behavior raises important questions about accountability and connection in the music industry. As fans await her next move, one thing is clear: the relationship between artists and their audience is a delicate balance, one that requires mutual respect and
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