Newsletter survey, a video, a link, and the animals in my yard
Come for the survey; stay for the animals
Hey friends,
I’m doing a short mishmash of a newsletter this week, because things have been a little nuts, and tomorrow I leave to see family. Next week will be a regular newsletter, but in the meantime…
I would be endlessly grateful if you took 1-3 minutes to fill out this survey and share your thoughts on the newsletter and how I can improve it. The only required questions are multiple choice, so I promise it’s so easy and shouldn’t take you long at all.
In lieu of written content, I’m sharing the video of a chat I had with
last month about recovery, storytelling, and creativity. You can check that out here. I’m not going to lie, I usually hate watching videos instead of reading, so I appreciate that in his post, Josh includes the time codes of when we discussed various subjects. Watch a little or a lot or not at all! But either way, check out Josh’s Substack.
Next: Although not specifically related to addiction recovery, a story I’ve been working on for a very long time was finally published on Sunday. It does relate to substance use, so I feel like it’s appropriate to share here.
A note: the story discusses sexual assault, so if you’d rather not read it, skip on by to the cute animal pictures. It’s behind a paywall for Business Insider, so if you don’t subscribe, here is an unpaywalled link. If you do happen to subscribe to BI, please use this link instead.
Last but absolutely not least—animals. A doe and her two fawns have set up camp in our yard, and I am thrilled. I know deer aren’t everyone’s favorite, but I think they’re stunning and almost magical. So here are a few pictures of the deer as well as some of my goats and dog because they, too, are profoundly cute.
Back with a less image-heavy post next week and please don’t forget to
Dear Cabin Friend, I and my son are homeless in "beautiful" Marin. I have nothing to give up, but the pain and fear. Not alcohol, not dope, but the present circumstances, restless, irritable, and discontent feel awfully familiar. 2016 we were price out of the Tam Valley apartment we'd had for 19 years. Moving back to my wife's home in the L.A. suburbs I became her caregiver through 7 years and two types of dialysis, only to have CA Prop 29 (defeated by DaVita's lobbyists $$$$), ensure her death (26 June 2023). They said it was kidney failure. It was malicious neglect - the facility would not permit an onsite M.D. She died intestate in my arms as I was preparing to take her to the dialysis session. I do not blame the technicians -one of whom came and sang a song he composed for her at her memorial - it was death by "private equity-profit before people". Probate feels like extorsion - it is all business, but that's the American way of Death, today. Through all, (pandemic included) the Program has been my support - as only the dying can comprehend -. My weariness prevents me from sharing more. Arne