Where did the summer go? I’ve already
started the preparations for hibernating thru the winter, ordering pellets and
cords of wood for the stoves to keep the house warm, scheduling appointments before
the snow flies and generally going about winterizing the house.
Autumn is my favorite time of
year. The cool crisp days of Fall bring clarity to my mind and soul. There is a
special magic about Fall that shakes the old cobwebs out, and refreshes my
being, something the hotness of Summer nor the cold of Winter does for me, and
Spring flashes by far too fast for the chillness of winter to have worn off.
I’ve spent many hours on my
torch this summer, making beads like crazy. It has been a much needed
distraction from the reality of life while also being a way to meditate on the
meaning of life. In June I lost my
younger sister Darlene to a drug overdose.
The truth is, I have been very lucky to have this wonderful, funny, kind,
generous woman in my life for as long as I did. As with any addiction, Dee’s
life and our relationship were complicated. The opioid epidemic is a crisis in
our country and I have been thinking about it quite a bit, you could say it has
consumed my life as of late. One thing
that surprised me was that when I ventured to share my story to others in my
town, everyone has a child or sibling that they are, and have been for some
time now, waiting for the same dreaded phone call about their own loved one, an
overdose …
I have been overwhelmed by the
outpouring of support and kindness from friends, especially those that I have
met thru social media; Friends, who shared in my grief and supported my efforts
to create a memorial to remember Dee. How can so much love come from so much
pain?
This summer has been a re-awakening
for me -- cliché, yes, but nothing is more true -- life is short, period. Another day, another hour, another minute is
not guaranteed to any one of us. Prioritize making time to see the people you
want to see, do the things you want to do (if not now, when?) and live life in
the present moment (be here now).
Dear Darlene,
I will be haunted forever by your leaving us too soon.
Did you know you were leaving us that night?
There was always supposed to be more time…
I will miss reminiscing over our childhood, what you
remembered, what I forgot.
I will miss seeing your beautiful smile and the twinkle
of mischief in your eyes.
I will miss hearing your giggle, as you were making us
all laugh.
I will be missing you Dee to the day I die.
 |
| Dee enjoying a stay in Gloucester |
The Opioid Epidemic, My 2 Cents…
The
Problem:
- The initial
introduction to a narcotic is either:
- Recreational or
- Prescribed treatment, where the drugs are often over prescribed. We can throw a lot of blame to the pharmaceutical companies for this… but the problem is now much more complicated
- There no longer is
any denial that narcotics are addictive.
- For many years, the
pharmaceutical companies and doctors lied to us all. They knew the truth.
Their greed and corruption led us to where we are today. Big Pharma and
their chief officers have blood on their hands, while families continue
to grieve the loss of loved ones. They dumped millions of narcotics on
small unsuspecting communities. There wasn’t then and has not been now any accountability for
their criminal, unforgivable, murderous actions.
- For those prescribed a narcotic, when the prescription runs out, and you need more, what are your options/choices? Turning to the streets? Today’s Heroin cut with Fentanyl is a killer!
Added Complications:
- For some people:
- The altered state,
created when taking a narcotic can be an escape from reality, a sign of
depression or other mental illnesses.
A willing or unwilling game of Russian roulette, a disengaged
route to commit suicide?
- The withdrawal
symptoms feed the need for more drugs, hence the addiction
My Reaction:
- Awareness that drugs
and /or alcohol are not a cure for loneliness
- Not everyone wants
help
- Programs are needed
to help an addict cope long term, not just take away their immediate addiction
to narcotics. You don’t just put
someone in electric shock treatment to disrupt their behavior without
teaching them a new way to cope with life.
- Programs to learn
about one’s self worth and gain self esteem
- Learning the joys
that come from helping others unconditionally
- Tools for
reintegrating into society or their community drug free
- Teachings on how
to rely on others, without becoming needy
- There needs to be a
“safe”, “inexpensive”, “timely”, and “convenient” way to wean a person off
narcotics. It is time for the pharmaceutical
companies and the insurance industry to step up to the plate, to find a
solution, and to be held accountable
for their part in this epidemic, for their lies and profit mongering.
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