Introspection

Is a good thing on a Sunday afternoon, just me and the dog at home, so I've been thinking. I took a scalding hot bath just now, I have been in severe pain since last Sunday, when I had a skateboarding accident. Unfortunately the bath didn't help the back, but I lay in that steamy water and thought back over the years on my meager attempts at rehabilitation. I suppose my very first effort was at the ripe old age of 16, when I successfully attained my first DUI. I had to undergo an evaluation by an alcohol and drug professional. I thought absolutely nothing of it. It didn't bother me, I never for one instant thought, "Gee, a DUI right after I get my license? Hmmm.... maybe I should slow down". I did, however learn some things. I was very naive at the time, and answered the questions truthfully. I drank about a six pack a day during the week, 12 to 18 beers a night on the weekend. At that point he told me I didn't have to lie to impress him. Little did he know, I was telling the truth. So that didn't go very well. After that incident, I never told a person in a position of authority the truth about my alcohol and drug use until this year. I also thought about people I knew that are no longer with us or that ruined their lives early on. My cousin Kim, killed in an automobile accident attributable to drugs.  Charles, a friend I was in a faith based sober living home with, who had two bachelors degrees from Tulane University, then came out here to California and died in a crack house. Will, another friend I worked in the Bahamas with. Went to the islands to get away from heroin, and traded it for cocaine. One night we were at a casino on Grand Bahama Island, and Will met a girl from a cruise ship that had some heroin. Next day, he's dead. The list goes on, but I don't think I'll list them all. And I think about how easily it could have been me. Almost was, a few times. My wife tells me that God has something planned for me, that's why I'm still here. Mom, much the same. Mary Linda, a woman at a sober living home, told me that God loved me more than most, that's why I have so much trouble in life, to bring me back closer to him. Who can tell? I do know one thing, there is a God, and He is at work in my family's lives today. So, until next time......