RECOVERY ROAD POT HOLES AND HUMPS

Recovery road is paved with promise and hope.

Most of all, it’s paved with compasses to stay on track.

Whether recovery involves substance or emotions, staying on track is vital.

How does that work?

Recovery people have a schedule that does not include their past transgressions.

Why? Because it’s in the past.

During my recovery from cancer treatment I had a nurse tell me:

“People go one of two ways after an event like you’re going through. They either go on with their life path, or their life turns into pathology.”

What did she mean? I didn’t ask because I was ready to be finished.

For all of the prep and talk about cancer treatment, I’d had enough before it started.

First came the chemo doc who had a plan that included three types of chemo and a chemo pump to make sure I had the proper levels of chemo at all times.

It sounded like a great cancer treatment plan and I was ready to stab a chemo spike into my neck as soon as I heard it.

But I have a wife with common sense enough to say, “Let’s get a second opinion.”

I figured a second opinion was for show because if a doctor said I needed a ton of chemo and a pump, who would disagree?

Who disagreed?

Dr. Yee of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute had a different opinion.

The first guy would have chemo-fried me to bits, the second had done the reading and gave an informed opinion going forward.

On the way home from the second opinion, which I signed up for, I got a call in the car from the first clinic.

How did that conversation go? Very politely, along with declining their service.

Instead of becoming a chemo casualty, I felt like I had a chance to find my path.

 

Trauma On Recovery Road

There are some people who consider a national trauma after the former president lost the election and still can’t believe it.

He’s making a stir leading up to 2024, poking and prodding his way into headline news.

But it’s not all good news, just don’t tell him.

Not only did he win the last election by a landslide based on his calculations, his most devout followers expect him to be reinstated as their leader any day now.

Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, if they send enough cash, buy more merchandise, and attend more rallies to buy more merch.

All the while, the former president carries a load of court cases in several states, at the federal level, and still gathers the thoughts and prayers of church leaders who encourage their flock that their main man has been ordained by God as the leader we all need.

I’m not saying they’re wrong, but they are so wrong it doesn’t bear repeating.

But it’s not wrong for people to flock to him. 

If you listen to his supporters, they appear to be damaged goods, people seeking anything that looks and feels like it needs them.

They are ready to help their man travel the recovery road to a better America for them.

More pollution? Drill baby drill.

More climate change? They’ve done their own research.

Medical advice? All the covid will disappear on it’s own.

 

The people who vote for candidates interested in a better America instead of those working to govern women’s healthcare, ban books, and make up daffy shit to get their face in front of a camera so the folks back home know they’re working hard like they promised, need a rest stop on their recovery road.

It’s been a relief not to see a grown man in make-up treat the White House as a big curtain for the day’s demonstration of stupidity.

But the guy is a draw, and if we know one thing, commercial TV needs a draw to keep watchers engaged through the commercials.

These are the major advertisers for ‘Fox News.’

 

Glaxosmithkline	Twitter	Facebook	E-mail: corporate.media@gsk.com
MyPillow	Twitter	Facebook
JP Morgan Chase	Twitter	Facebook
Progressive	Twitter	Facebook
General Motors	Twitter	Facebook	E-mail: mediaservices@gm.com
Procter & Gamble	Twitter	Facebook	E-mail: mediateam.im@pg.com
Liberty Mutual	Twitter	Facebook
Novartis	Twitter	Facebook
BlackRock	Twitter	Facebook

The BoomerPdx question: If you believe the bullshit pouring out of Fox News, what do you think of the claims made by it’s advertisers?

Sketchy? Or not?

 

The Recovery Road Dead End

Every road taken, or less taken, has a moment of reflection.

‘Do I know where I am? Do I have enough gas to get where I’m going?’

It’s a mad scramble to get oriented.

You may feel lost at sea and turn to other means for direction.

Trust your gut.

If you can’t trust your guy, find someone with a gut to trust.

I’m not saying trust me, boomerpdx, or any blogger, but I do have bona fides you may look up to if you’re in a looking mood.

 

The things I tried in my small town:

Boy Scouts Troop 154 with Scout Master Floyd. Hey, Danny.

Wrestling for the North Bend Bulldogs. Hey, Mark.

College wrestling for one season. Hey, Red Raiders.

Served in the Army two years. Hey, Jeff and Dale.

Tried out for the All Army Wrestling team. Hey, Randy.

College history degree. Hey, Portland State.

Professional historian. Hey, Oregon Historical Society.

Married man. Hey, honey.

Father of two. Hey, kids.

Father in-law to two. Good morning, ladies.

Granddad of one, with another any second. Hey, babies.

Dog owner. Come, Ruby.

 

Do I feel lost, dazed, and confused? What do I do?

I work to stay on track, stay dedicated to my path, and take steps with every blog post.

Now we’re talking about writing blog posts as a navigation aid?

Listen, if you can get yourself together enough to knock out blog posts on topics of interest to you, keep it up. You’re on the right path.

I’ve got a thing for writers who practice their craft, keep the beginning, middle, and end in mind while they work.

Tell me a story I can’t get enough of and make it bigger.

I write for readers who need a little entertainment, a break. But I also write for other writers, or those who have a writer hidden away in their ambitions.

Instead of an instruction manual style where A leads to B and ends in C, I work with what interests me to begin with.

 

Watching The Recovery Route For Problems

As we get older, as we turn twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or sixty-nine, we’ve seen a few roads, been on a few, and hopefully learned things along the way.

I learned I could have been nicer at my fortieth high school reunion. I got a reminder at the fiftieth. Hey, Debbie.

While spending a night, the first night, in Galllup, New Mexico, I learned I could be more understanding.

If a shrink read my blog they could do an analysis.

Would it be better than most blogger analysis where the writer is an attention whore pretending to be a helping hand to others?

Probably not, but unless it’s a writer doing the analysis, they can pound sand.

Writing is a reward, yet there are rewards for writing.

My biggest reward? You, dear reader, are my biggest reward.

Even bigger if you forward the links to the posts you read.

Do that and you may be rewarded with, “Why did you send that link? Do you think I’m like that? Who is that fucking guy, anyway.”

Let me know how it work out.

Now, go write.