| Celebrating Life... with some personal history |
| Early Years... |
Born and raised in the state of New Jersey. The youngest of four boys. I believe, and that's the key, I believe the
product of two alcoholic parents. I say I believe because some of my brothers still have a hard time accepting this
reality. They weren't always alcoholics and when did it happen? I can't say.
But I do believe that I was raised by a different set of parents compared to my brothers. You see, I'm quite a bit
younger than my three brothers, while they are pretty close in age. When they were growing up, the house was
full and lively. They were all into sports, boy scouts, and church activities. My parents kept them busy and in the
process, they too, were kept busy.
By the time was entering high school, I had a brother in Vietnam, one in college, and one bouncing around. What
was a full house, was now pretty empty. My parents were now older and looking back, didn't have the energy to
do the things with me that they did with the other three.
It took my own addictions to realize that my parents weren't bad people. They did make bad choices, but they
weren't bad people. My Mom often took the time to help me with my homework. As she made supper, I'd sit at
the kitchen table reading to her or asking questions about a math problem.
My Dad did take the time to coach my little league baseball team and one year we were the champs!
But when they drank they were entirely different people. The demons they became when drinking are not the
parents I would like to remember. It took a long time for me, to separate the alcoholic from the person.
product of two alcoholic parents. I say I believe because some of my brothers still have a hard time accepting this
reality. They weren't always alcoholics and when did it happen? I can't say.
But I do believe that I was raised by a different set of parents compared to my brothers. You see, I'm quite a bit
younger than my three brothers, while they are pretty close in age. When they were growing up, the house was
full and lively. They were all into sports, boy scouts, and church activities. My parents kept them busy and in the
process, they too, were kept busy.
By the time was entering high school, I had a brother in Vietnam, one in college, and one bouncing around. What
was a full house, was now pretty empty. My parents were now older and looking back, didn't have the energy to
do the things with me that they did with the other three.
It took my own addictions to realize that my parents weren't bad people. They did make bad choices, but they
weren't bad people. My Mom often took the time to help me with my homework. As she made supper, I'd sit at
the kitchen table reading to her or asking questions about a math problem.
My Dad did take the time to coach my little league baseball team and one year we were the champs!
But when they drank they were entirely different people. The demons they became when drinking are not the
parents I would like to remember. It took a long time for me, to separate the alcoholic from the person.
| High School Years... |
Again, being the youngest child affected my teenage years. It wasn't "cool" to be hanging around with your baby
brother, so I didn't have much of a social life with my brothers. Which in hindsight probably hurt me. I didn't have
any guidance to keep me out of trouble. So I basically did what I wanted to do.
In high school, that meant a lot of drinking. By my senior year, I was 18 and was able to sign my own absentee
cards. I had no structure in my life. My Mom died on February 5, 1976 and my Dad was still working, so I was on
my own. After I got accepted to college I was out of school more than I was in. There was no one at home during
a school day, so 4-5 other people would come over and we'd drink the day away.
By the time I graduated high school, I was well on my way to becoming an alcoholic. My one brother tried to
convince me to go to college somewhere close to home, but I had other plans. I wanted out. I wanted as far
away from my birthplace as I could get. And that ended up being Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota.
It would be the chance to start a new life. No one knew me and I thought I could get rid of all my excess baggage.
Was accepted into college with a football scholarship and was ready to make things happen. I never made it
onto the football field. I quit after one day. I was tired of proving myself and trying to be something I wasn't.
I no longer wanted to be accepted for athletical feats. Those days were part of my past and I wanted nothing to
do with it.
brother, so I didn't have much of a social life with my brothers. Which in hindsight probably hurt me. I didn't have
any guidance to keep me out of trouble. So I basically did what I wanted to do.
In high school, that meant a lot of drinking. By my senior year, I was 18 and was able to sign my own absentee
cards. I had no structure in my life. My Mom died on February 5, 1976 and my Dad was still working, so I was on
my own. After I got accepted to college I was out of school more than I was in. There was no one at home during
a school day, so 4-5 other people would come over and we'd drink the day away.
By the time I graduated high school, I was well on my way to becoming an alcoholic. My one brother tried to
convince me to go to college somewhere close to home, but I had other plans. I wanted out. I wanted as far
away from my birthplace as I could get. And that ended up being Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota.
It would be the chance to start a new life. No one knew me and I thought I could get rid of all my excess baggage.
Was accepted into college with a football scholarship and was ready to make things happen. I never made it
onto the football field. I quit after one day. I was tired of proving myself and trying to be something I wasn't.
I no longer wanted to be accepted for athletical feats. Those days were part of my past and I wanted nothing to
do with it.
| College Years... |
I really didn't enter the drug scene until I entered college. I had tried pot in high school and liked it, but at that
time alcohol was still my drug of choice.
I dropped out of school at the midterm of my sophomore year. My first semester on campus I barely slid by with a
2.0 average. I was more into making new friends and partying. The amazing thing was that most of my new
friends were pretty intelligent and were able to separate their partying habits from school. They were all on the
deans list.
Their attitudes began to rub off on me and I wanted to succeed with my grades. By the time I dropped out,
during the first semester of my sophomore year my semester grades were up to 3.5. And that was one of the
reasons I used to quit. I could get good grades and I had nothing else to prove.
College introduced me to a whole new world, where the word - no - was not part of my vocabulary. I tried pot,
hash, qualudes, meth, goofballs, LSD, mescaline, and even some "home made" drugs.
time alcohol was still my drug of choice.
I dropped out of school at the midterm of my sophomore year. My first semester on campus I barely slid by with a
2.0 average. I was more into making new friends and partying. The amazing thing was that most of my new
friends were pretty intelligent and were able to separate their partying habits from school. They were all on the
deans list.
Their attitudes began to rub off on me and I wanted to succeed with my grades. By the time I dropped out,
during the first semester of my sophomore year my semester grades were up to 3.5. And that was one of the
reasons I used to quit. I could get good grades and I had nothing else to prove.
College introduced me to a whole new world, where the word - no - was not part of my vocabulary. I tried pot,
hash, qualudes, meth, goofballs, LSD, mescaline, and even some "home made" drugs.
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