amy whinehouse is gone at 27 years old

[Phil]

I wonder how that ends up being the attraction. Drugs I mean. I even posted a video about 3 years ago a friend of my brothers died of an alcohol overdose. More than likely a mix of alcohol and drugs.

I knew this kid since he was about 4. As you all know Alan is 9 years younger than me so I remember the both of them playing in sandboxes and riding bigwheels.

When Alan and his friend were high school age and I was about 25, 26, 27 this kid was regularly thrown out of his home for abuse of substance. My parents frowned on Alan hanging with him and I can understand that. Once or twice I let this guy crash on my couch. That only happened for brief intervals since my wife wasn't thrilled with the idea and of course we had a small child of our own by then. *that being Jason*

He tried out of town jobs thinking that a different environment might kick his habits. However whenever he got a paycheck that meant money and that meant booze and substance.

He hit rock bottom in 2008 and spent about 6 months in a center. About spring he got out. His parents took him in and he got a job. Not a major income job but a start and finish routine and something in an honest day's work.

Then one Tuesday night Alan and his friends go bowling and sometimes to a bar afterwords. Then Jerry, the guy I'm speaking of, after his parents had gone to bed takes his mother's car and goes to the bar to meet the bowlers. He had once bowled on that team but had been replaced during his problems. Well he shows up at the bar. Doesn't go to work Wednesday or Thursday and doesn't wake up Friday. That happened around October of 2008. Dead at 28. Not even a famous person but a waste of life.

How it reflected is I knew this 4 year old in the sandbox how could I know it would end like that?

[Beangirl]

I remember the story well Phil. It is a very sad end.Somewhere along the line the little boy on his Big Wheel faced something in his life he just could not cope with. Only he and God knows what that was. The booze and dope took it away for awhile but it always comes back.Always. You either face it and deal with it or you die. Not fair. Not fair at all.

[Classicblast]

I remember that too. Phil's video I mean. it's too familiar of a story I'm afraid. Minor league baseball is a bad source of drug abusers too.

[angel607]

sometimes I wonder if people do drugs because maybe something in their past was so painful they are afraid to confront it. they do drugs because they can't deal with the pain. I know some try it and just get addicted to it. my ex I was pretty much blown away when I found out not only was he a big time smoker but he did weed. in his facebook pictures his fiance looked high on something and he snorted something up his nose. he had a good job working with computers but was let go and it's been hard for him to get a job. he can't apply at kmart where I work because he told me he was fired from sears. he was caught sleeping in the fitting room because he was bleeding from his head. he won't talk about it and my friend wondered if it was because of drugs. it's amazing he complains how poor he is but always has the money for cigerettes. should try using that money on food. I know amy whinehouse reached out to dr drew and left him a message because she asked for help. but he was to busy and didn't know until it was to late. it's sad to think about if she didn't do drugs she would of had many more wonderful years to come. it's a life gone to soon.

[Classicblast]

I think its frees most from facing reality. To some its fast money.

[Beangirl]

Aug 17, 2011 23:12:19 GMT -5 angel607 said:

sometimes I wonder if people do drugs because maybe something in their past was so painful they are afraid to confront it. they do drugs because they can't deal with the pain. I know some try it and just get addicted to it. my ex I was pretty much blown away when I found out not only was he a big time smoker but he did weed. in his facebook pictures his fiance looked high on something and he snorted something up his nose. he had a good job working with computers but was let go and it's been hard for him to get a job. he can't apply at kmart where I work because he told me he was fired from sears. he was caught sleeping in the fitting room because he was bleeding from his head. he won't talk about it and my friend wondered if it was because of drugs. it's amazing he complains how poor he is but always has the money for cigerettes. should try using that money on food. I know amy whinehouse reached out to dr drew and left him a message because she asked for help. but he was to busy and didn't know until it was to late. it's sad to think about if she didn't do drugs she would of had many more wonderful years to come. it's a life gone to soon.

Angel? you are 100% correct. Drugs are self medication for low self esteem and trauma.

[Phil]

It must be. But I can't help but wonder how it starts or maybe it chooses the person.

[Classicblast]

I think the person chooses it. Obviously everybody is a different person its probably not fair to lump them all the same but I think that.

I cam through the ranks like all these other guys. It wasn't any easier to cope for me than it was for them. Ok, I did come from this country I did not come from a share cropping family in the Dominican Republics or South America. That much is true.

Then again I dare say those guys get more second chances than people like me. If I don't cut the mustard they say "go back to yankee land and work in your family construction business."

They don't always want to send Jorge back to San Pedro de Macoris or Santo Domingo. I never got tempted or bribed or caught in the rut. I walked the straight and narrow until I landed a full time position.

I was never a Pittsburg Pirate, a LA Dodger or anybody like that. I didn't play for Billy Martin, Tommy Lasorda or Joe Torre. But I also didn't lose my career or my life to drugs.

So there!


Thanks for letting me ramble.

[angel607]

thank you beangirl. I remember when I had depression and wanted to block out the pain by doing stuff. I don't drink though so I don't know what they go through. maybe to drown in their sorrows. I think it's a scary thing when you can't stop drinking because it leads to trouble.