I'M Coming Home

My Poetry Soup Friends, what a journey I have been on since we last spoke. I graduated from Butte College with an AA in Social and Behavioral Science, Yuba College with an AS in Addiction Counseling, and Chico State with a BA in Psychology. I am now a State of California Certified CADC Counselor. Coming from my past of Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Prison Gang Member, and ex-con, I feel like a Phoenix. I think when I received my Pardon from the Governor in 2015, my transformation process was near completion. Then, when I went to work for the County where I live, I knew my journey was complete. I love helping others find their way out of the darkness of addiction and mental health disorders that plagued my own life; I now know my transformation is complete. I continued to write while I have been absent from our poetry site. I plan on posting again, and more importantly, reading your poetry. I have missed being a part of our Poetry Soup community. Once I had told my story, I thought I had achieved my goal. I honestly thought I had nothing more to say. I focused my attention on school and then my career. Toni and I raised Michaela; she has become an amazing young lady. Our other children are also living very blessed lives, which gives us great pride. We now have nine grandchildren and get to enjoy sharing all of their lives as well. My life is blessed, but I’ve felt something was missing, an empty hole that I’ve been unable to fill. I write poems for all of our Behavioral Health Events. While writing my Poems for this year’s Recovery Happens/Suicide Prevention day in the park, it came to me; Poetry Soup is what has left a hole in my soul, so I’m coming home to share the bright side of my story. There will be more poems to follow. Many people/clients see me as a hero figure, but I’m just an old-dawg who has learned new tricks. I’m trying to do the Lords work as best I can: One day, one person, and one poem at a time.