Do You Have the Time?

It was a matter of timing,

Or so she said.

I think timing is a matter better left to the Swiss.

Checkout

The Plainview Drug and Rehabilitation Center was built in the 1920's on a tract of land outside Thamesville, Ontario as a home for the mentally insane. It was funded by church bingos, bake sales, flea markets and an annual fishing derby with most of the money coming from the church itself. I'm almost sure that, in some dingy basement where men smoked pipes, they actually believed that all of their efforts were for the greater good of the community. The truth was they were funding a place to hide their shame; a place where a drooling, blabbering basketcase could be hidden and contained.

I used to wander the halls at night. I never slept. I'd hear crying and screaming and it was never clear if it was one or the other. Guests would wander the halls with me. Sometimes we made eye contact. Most times we didn't acknowledge each other at all because at night the pain became most acute. I'd be alone because Jack had gone home for the night. And I'd remember.

There was the girl who said she loved me and I believe she did. But I knew when she unzipped me she's find nothing but fear so I left her in a kitchen and I don't even know if she was crying because I really didn't care. There was the family reunion where I was unwelcome and unwanted. There were lies, shame, guilt, secrecy, anger, remorse, pleas, tears and a moment of clarity that saved my life.

Jack, where do you go at night?

I go home Matt. I don't live here. You do. I have a wife that makes me supper. We talk about the day and we talk about you. Angie loves you too by the way. After dinner we watch Jeopardy and some sitcoms. We always talk Matt. Always. In the summer we'll stroll down by the Thames and pretend we're in England. Did I tell you Angie and I met in England?

I didn't even know Angie existed until about ten seconds ago, Jack. I just sort of assumed they had some sort of place on the grounds where you went every night.

What do you want when you get out of here Matt?

I want to go home. I want to be happy. I never want to drink again. Ever. I want to face my fear. I want to tell the truth. I want to laugh, love and live.

Well you can do that. Just follow the principles I've given you. Follow them to the letter. You might not get what you want. You'll get what you need. Just be patient and believe. But if you stray from what you've learned you will die. You're not normal Matt. This can kill you...whether you drink or not.

My sister was wating outside the gate. She who had brought me here was going to take me out of here. I came in with the clothes on my back, the money in my pocket and nothing else. I was leaving richer than I'd been in my entire life and all I had was the clothes on my back and the money in my pocket.

It was beginning....

Gratitude

Jack:

When everyone else was walking out,

You walked in.

Thank You.

The Laws of Magnetism.

If you want to learn as much as possible about someone in a short amount of time never ask them anything. People are inherently deceptive about personal matters. Family, finances...lingering disease.

Instead stand directly in front of their fridge. Not only will this give you some sort of idea about the type of person you're dealing with, you can alway pull on the handle, examine their dietary habits and decide whether or not you want to stay for dinner.

If they have nothing on their fridge. Leave in silence.