Relapse and Junkie Stories

1)

There is a beautiful nature and meaning behind the words, “True friends.” No matter how far back the paths go, no matter how far apart we are, no matter how long ago we spoke and no matter what concept or direction in life we choose; there are no friends like old friends.

Billy was an old Continue reading

Real Fiction: Another Bad Dream

Winter, Downtown New York City, 1989

Eric sat in a small rundown apartment with a fallen light bulb dangling from two wires in the middle of the ceiling and hanging over a cluttered coffee table filled with old crumpled paper bags, an overflowing ashtray with mashed cigarettes, empty beer bottles, empty Continue reading

Penicillin And All That Jazz . . .

I was telling you about one of my theories the other day. I have a new one now. I call this one my Penicillin Theory. It came to me when I was looking at one of my pill bottles in the medicine cabinet last night.
The pills inside are pink and somewhat large. The doctor’s name is irrelevant and so is much of the information on the label itself. The only thing important here is the medication, which in this case is Amoxicillin, and the directions, were that I take this medication two times per day for ten days or until the medication was finished. Did I follow these directions?

Well, kinda . . .

I was sick as a dog the other week. I hadn’t been sick like this in a long time. Moreover, I haven’t had strep throat in more than a decade. My throat was soar. My body was achy. I had a fever and while Continue reading

One Of My Theories . . .

Dudley Moore once said, “I never learned anything from anyone that totally agreed with me all the time. . .”
I learned about this quote the other day while studying different motivational interviewing skills. I started thinking about my path and whether I was open or closed minded. Well, this is what I came up with

We are all taught Continue reading

Letters From a Son

A lot happened since my last letter to you. In fact, so much has happened in a short amount of time, I’m not even sure where to begin. I don’t even know how to describe it and fit it all in one note.

I’m learning more and more that there are things I cannot say any longer. Each day, I learn more about the meaning behind the words we use and how we seem to forget that everything we say has meaning. No matter how loosely we use a word or how we choose to use our them; Continue reading

About My Plan

I have been thinking a lot about the plans I’ve been working on for the last few months. I was thinking about us and the way we were as kids. I was thinking about the help we had and the help we never received. Then I started to wonder if anyone cares anymore, —and what I mean is I mean I wonder if anyone cares enough to open their eyes to see more than what appears to be the surface level or the obvious. What I mean by that is I wonder if anyone cares enough to try a different way, —to look a bit deeper than before and step away from the Continue reading

It’s hardest when . .

It’s hardest when they are young and they see themselves a grown up, living a full-grown adult’s life, thinking they know everything, and believing this without any doubt; meanwhile, the truth is they have only been speaking in full complete sentences for a little more than a decade. Meanwhile, less than a decade ago, they watched cartoons (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and they believed in things like The Easter Bunny, Santa, and the tooth fairy. They know it all; meanwhile, they don’t see what we see. No, they see through the eyes of self-preservation.
It’s hardest when trying to work Continue reading

As I see it

Over the last several months, I have been reaching out to different people and different coalitions about an issue that is very important and personal to me. To list the issue is unimportant and to advertise the names of those involved or to list the coalitions involved is equally unimportant, and therefore by mentioning them it would only place honor names that are otherwise undeserving of my time.
The only thing I see  deserving of mention is the dedication and strength of those who continue to fight in a battle that seems unwinnable Continue reading

Late Night Prose:

Finally, I have a chance to breathe.

Late night and New York City streetlights stand tall over an otherwise empty corner near Lexington and 43rd.
(I’m sure you know the place)
The summertime in the city is different to me somehow and as I stand, staring up at the Chrysler across from Grand Central Station, I lower my view to watch a herd of out-of-towners, dressed in their city best, and Continue reading