by Lee Gaylord

Created on: May 16, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Over the past few years, except for 4 or 5 joints, I have not done illegal drugs.

At one time I was a drunk I am now a reformed drunk I was not an alcoholic because I totally stopped drinking on my own 10 years ago. In the last 10 years I have had 3 glasses of champagne and 2 beers. I have tended bar and lived in bars and did not even want anything stronger than cola. I also use nicotine and caffeine.

I have never used cocaine, heroin or any of the other illegal drugs except for "bud."

As I mentioned above, my life has been affected by it. I have lost friends to drugs and I have lost women I have cared for to crack and alcohol.

My second wife and I took my children from the first marriage to the ethnic festivals on the Detroit River quite often when they were kids. One time there was a man in his early 30's eating out of garbage cans. A couple with no sense or compassion teased him with a cup of beer. They would act like they were giving it to him then take it away. They then threw it in the garbage and he dove into it to try to get the beer before it all came out of the cup.

My son asked me why he was that way. I said drugs and alcohol have fried his brains.

Another time we met a friend of the wife's family. His hands were swollen grotesquely and one of the kids asked why. I told them the he was a heroin addict and he shoots up in his hands. The last time I saw him he had recovered from his addiction and was living happily. He was jogging and he and his wife were going back together. He had 2 heart attacks and soon after I saw him he died of a heart attack. Heroin killed him.

A few years ago, after my divorce, I met a young lady who was a joy to be with. Then I found she was cross addicted with drugs and alcohol. When she was sober and not high we had a great time together. When I got money in she would disappear and the drug dealers would start calling. The first had her pager and would sell it back to me. The second would have a ring or two. When she ran out of things to trade she would be back.

She finally went into detox for a week. She came out and was waiting for a 30 day program. She went a month drug and alcohol free. We were going to take a long weekend off and I had $700 together for the trip.

She helped me with my accounting business and the night before the trip she decided to spend the night at my place above the office. She told me to go to bed and she would come up later after finishing some work.

In the morning I found my wallet on my desk with a note

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