John and I are killing time riding around town for
lack of something better to do. He receives a call on
his cell phone and from what I gather its an old girl
friend. I stop at a local park so he can have some
privacy, he comes back to the car for what seemed
like hours and states he is going to South Florida
for the Thanksgiving weekend which is this week. I
say to myself, this is not a good idea and from what
I have learned from the classes on addiction that I
have attended, its a very bad idea, but he has attended
those same classes. I guess he must of been thinking
hard on this ex girl friend, because the next thing he
asks me, is to go by the Salvation Army to pack his bag
and to take him to a car rental place at the airport. I feel
like I am helping him along at this point, but I go ahead
anyway, his mind is made up and off he goes stating
that he will be back after Thanksgiving.
I enjoyed Thanksgiving day, I had several great meals,
met a lot of sober people and people in the Gainesville
community that are helping veterans, if we would only
allow them too and to move forward instead of backwards.
The rest of the long weekend went uneventful for me, I
attended three Alcoholic Anonymous meetings a day, stayed after the meetings and spoke with a lot of people and started working of my step two.
John called me several times after Thanksgiving always
after he had to many pills and alcohol. Then one day I
tried calling him and his telephone was disconnected. I
have not heard from him since. I keep him in mind when
I am talking to my Higher Power in hopes that he is okay
and will again seek help somewhere before the addiction
kills him.
I now have a new bunk mate, his name is Melvin also a
army veteran about fifty years old, he also, is part of the
out patient program at the Veterans hospital so we have
something in common which makes life easier. He says
this is his fourth attempt at cleaning up his act. I am
finding out that fighting this addiction is like being in
a war, you win some battles, but also lose some, so the
more training you get, you up the odds in your favor.
