Happy New Year and welcome back…
It is 2009 and as is customary (in my world) I hope you’ve made some good resolutions for the year. I’ve made a few: I’ve planned them and on day 3 of the New Year I’ve already started on a few. The big one is to increase awareness about the issue of poverty, and in particular its link to lack of education, throughout my circle of influence.
I am currently working on a program I plan to implement once the snow melts. It involves a GPS and various geographic coordinates throughout North America. I’ll keep you posted, but here’s the clue: ever heard of Geocaching? (Yes, there will be a very clear link and application to the blog topic.)
Now – let’s get back to Nichole and her family. It’s been too long and I apologize for the lag in getting back to this story. Though Nichole has told me many of her experiences, I don’t know them all intimately. She is ready and willing to share the stories, but she needed a little break. It’s not easy to reminisce on this type of life; and even harder for someone who may have a little of what I call survivor’s guilt. (Nichole wonders, at times, why her? Why did she have the chance to get out?)
It is 2009 and as is customary (in my world) I hope you’ve made some good resolutions for the year. I’ve made a few: I’ve planned them and on day 3 of the New Year I’ve already started on a few. The big one is to increase awareness about the issue of poverty, and in particular its link to lack of education, throughout my circle of influence.
I am currently working on a program I plan to implement once the snow melts. It involves a GPS and various geographic coordinates throughout North America. I’ll keep you posted, but here’s the clue: ever heard of Geocaching? (Yes, there will be a very clear link and application to the blog topic.)
Now – let’s get back to Nichole and her family. It’s been too long and I apologize for the lag in getting back to this story. Though Nichole has told me many of her experiences, I don’t know them all intimately. She is ready and willing to share the stories, but she needed a little break. It’s not easy to reminisce on this type of life; and even harder for someone who may have a little of what I call survivor’s guilt. (Nichole wonders, at times, why her? Why did she have the chance to get out?)
CAUTION: The following content contains mature subjects.
Four years ago, Nichole’s brother Alex, died. He was 35 years old.
Alex grew up just like his sisters. He was the only boy and once their father left, he was also the man of the house. Shouldn't every 8 year old be the man of the house? He would help clean, he would discipline his sisters, he would take care of himself and his mother – just as a father would… but Alex had a problem of getting in trouble at school, and sometimes getting kicked out. In the US, if you are under 18 and out of school you end up in juvie. Alex learned that one at a really young age...
At the age of 10, his mother told him that his next offense would lead him straight to living with his father. Sure enough, young Alex got into yet another fight and got suspended. Nichole’s mom packed his bags and drove him to his father’s – he was dropped off at the door. It took two years of Alex’s rebellious behavior to get him into trouble so big that his father greeted him with a swift “punch in the face”! His mom was quickly at the door to pick up her son and bring him home.
Alex never had a role model, and never had discipline. He didn’t always have meals, and when he did, they were rarely healthy. His behavior made him lose his football privileges. At the age of 12, this boy was losing more than he had before – which wasn’t very much to begin with; he wanted a normal life…
He didn’t graduate high school, but did get trained to be an electrician. The money was good enough to buy the drugs that made life easier - "weed", "coke", heroin, among others. He bought drugs; he used drugs; he sold drugs… (To quote Nichole: “There is more to this story, but I don’t know everything. And, I never want to.”)
May I state the obvious? Drugs lead to addictions, and addictions are generally bad news! In order to make more money for drugs, Alex decided to run his own business… He started overcharging, and one of his clients noticed. He was writing checks to himself – from other people; those people noticed. Someone called him in! Alex was arrested and went to prison.
While doing his time, Alex finished his GED. It appeared that he had a second chance… He was released at the age of 35... back into the world he knew.
One Saturday morning in April 06, Penny went to visit her brother… He wouldn’t answer the knock on the door. She knelt down by the window of his sub-ground apartment and peered inside to see Alex, lying on the couch motionless. Penny ran into the building and broke down his door. He had tissues in his nose, full of blood, and he was grey. Alex was dead!
He had been battling pneumonia and taking the meds; he was drinking with friends the night before; he was taking diet pills (the same that Anna Nicole Smith was taking); and he was taking Vicodin. Big news – those things don’t mix!
The vicious circle is perpetuated - fatally... If little Alex, at the age of 10, had had the opportunities that you and I are familiar with, he may never have been lying dead on his couch at the age of 35. Now, Alex will never have that chance.
You and I do. Yyou and I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of 10 year olds we know, and even some we don’t. Check out organizations like: Street Kids International, Big Brothers or Big Sisters, and Mentoring.
Make 2009 one to remember; make a difference.
One Saturday morning in April 06, Penny went to visit her brother… He wouldn’t answer the knock on the door. She knelt down by the window of his sub-ground apartment and peered inside to see Alex, lying on the couch motionless. Penny ran into the building and broke down his door. He had tissues in his nose, full of blood, and he was grey. Alex was dead!
He had been battling pneumonia and taking the meds; he was drinking with friends the night before; he was taking diet pills (the same that Anna Nicole Smith was taking); and he was taking Vicodin. Big news – those things don’t mix!
The vicious circle is perpetuated - fatally... If little Alex, at the age of 10, had had the opportunities that you and I are familiar with, he may never have been lying dead on his couch at the age of 35. Now, Alex will never have that chance.
You and I do. Yyou and I have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of 10 year olds we know, and even some we don’t. Check out organizations like: Street Kids International, Big Brothers or Big Sisters, and Mentoring.
Make 2009 one to remember; make a difference.
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Hey we're moving into some pretty heady territory ... I look forward to following your in-depth case studies and your groping as to how a family can work on breaking out of this chaotic cycle of poverty, lack of education, drugs and death! Many thanks for sharing these obviously painful personal references with your readers.
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