heading up the entourage

A dear friend of mine who has had experience with narcissism in her family, in responding to my writing, used the analogy of "groupie" to describe my relationship to my mother. I saw a lot of validity in the image.

Groupies are treated well, in general; as part of the entourage, they enjoy luxuries and a certain prestige, basking in the star's reflected glory. But the groupie's attentions must be on the star; the groupie must think of the star first; there is an inherent asymmetry in the relationship between the groupie and the star; groupies are well-known for being "yes men", not likely to be honest with "the star" if someting uncomfortable comes up. Or, if the groupie does speak up, the star's first impulse is to tell the groupie to get gone --- not to examine herself in light of what has been said.

I was head of her entourage for years, it seems.