Northwoods Recovery

It could be another symptom of advancing old age, or perhaps simply boredom, but from the safety of this Northwoods perch I frequently catch myself suddenly reliving some of the long-forgotten and unbelievably stupid actions, incidents and anecdotes that stand out from my addiction years. Rather embarrassing, but for the most part amusing to recall those moments of pure idiocy.  

There’s a bottomless trove of material to unpack; like the time, stupefied by booze and dope, I lost my suitcase while traveling from Guatemala into Mexico. Crossing the border involved getting across the Usumacinta River by open boat; once across I realized my bag was still on the tour bus returning to the Tikal area, and no chance I’d ever see it again. I had kept only my passport, money, and the clothes I was wearing, which were stinking abominably thanks to the carsick little boy in the commercial travel van to Palenque who projectile vomited on the sister seated between us; splattering a fair amount on me in the process. 

Haven’t thought about that mortifying debacle in years... 

And then there was that Christmas morning in Jamaica, smoking ganja with new friends around a campfire, when everyone suddenly stood and quickly walked away. Looking up, I saw two cops approaching with guns drawn. 

Spending the next three days in a Jamaican dungeon scared me witless, and then, after being relieved of all my money, I was unceremoniously tossed out of the country. 

Not the Merry Christmas I’d anticipated. 

Which brings me to the many LSD trips, hundreds of them, and all an exercise in insanity; especially conspicuous is one from my Haight-Ashbury days. I was staying at a hippie crash pad where I was given some high potency Orange Sunshine LSD, which once swallowed was carelessly forgotten. Ambushed, this unexpected acid trip pushed me completely over the edge, with kaleidoscope-like hallucinations of an alien abduction and transport to a parallel universe. Friends later found me curled up in a ball, still totally freaked out and babbling incoherently.  

That particular episode convinced me to curtail drug use for several months and take up Zen Buddhist meditation instead. 

I laugh about it now, but how major brain damage was avoided is a mystery that will forever remain unsolved. 

Remembering never fails to fill me with gratitude for this ongoing drug-free existence; my life now only made possible because we do recover.

Do you think you may have a problem with alcohol? Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call the AA Hotline at 715-360-4637 or visit www.northwoodsaa.org for questions or to find a meeting in your area.