2Frazzled I really enjoyed reading your story, and it was made even better by the ending. It was like the universe was giving you both sides of the scales in one day...a friendly meeting, followed by a reminder that it can never be more that that.
As do use people, but I bet he was just ashamed about his fast relapse when he 'dropped' you. Probably the enjoyment of having his family there kept him motivated, but the reality of seeing them go pulled him back into old habits. Not a real recovery at all because it failed at the first challenge.