I have mixed feelings about people just dropping by our home. Most of the time the folks that just stop by are friends that live nearby and drop by when they are visiting another mutual friend in the neighborhood. Nothing is expected and nothing is awkward. Last weekend we had surprise visitor from my former step-son. I say "former" not because I stopped considering my step-sons from my first marriage family when we divorced, but to specify that I am not talking of Zach. It is odd that I have been rather a permanent step parent since I was 18. My first marriage (I only have two, don't panic) I was step-mom to two boys, full time, as their Dad had custody. It was a very unpleasant situation. The parents did not get along; in fact they actively fought and it was miserable. I really do not feel like dredging all of it up but it involved courts both civil and criminal. Looking back now I think that their mother was treated badly and even though she had made mistake