#NotOneMoreDeath
This past week Jim and I took a trip to Anaheim California to attend the 2018 Western States Opioid Summit hosted by the organization Jim retired from almost a year ago, Social Model Recovery Systems. This was a 3 day event located at The Anaheim Convention Center.
We left the Happy Destiny at Alton Marina in Alton Illinois, caught a cab to Lambert St. Louis International Airport, and away we flew to LAX. I had been looking forward to this trip as I know Jim was too, because we were going to see “Our Tribe”, our AA friends, Jim’s peers and colleagues from SMRS, and I was going to see my children, grandchildren, my sister, and the kitty I left with her and Darlene back in February. I think both of us were a bit anxious as we walked away from the boat, knowing that the next few days would be different. Different in respect to our quiet, one day adventures on the water. We were about to be bombarded with the noise of a busy life. And we were!
We arrived at LAX around 7:00 in the evening. Stepping off the plane, I felt my blood pressure rise. The airport was bustling, the buzz in the air deafening. Both Jim and I have traveled and Jim, in particular, has been in many an airport. We were running a bit late, as the car rental place was going to be closing at 8:00. We had to check our bag back in St. Louis, so a trip to the baggage claim area was in store. Our bright idea was for Jim to rush to find a shuttle to the rental place and for me to wait for the bag. Then Jim would come back to the airport terminal and pick me up. Ugh! Let the games begin.
He took off, I collected the bag, and headed out to the street. It was just as I expected it to be. Cars honking, sirens blaring, the faint sound of everyone talking at the same time. The NOISE! we live a very quiet, very calming life on our Great Loop Adventure. The most noise we hear is the birds chirping, the wind whizzing past our ears, the sound of waves hitting our bow. Tonight, was the exact opposite of where we were in our morning. I decided it might be helpful to catch a shuttle myself to the car rental place. I would not legally be able to drive the car unless I was there to sign the contract. I had 20 minutes to spare, hopped on the shuttle and arrived with barely a minute to get my name on the contract. Whew...
Our plan was to spend the night in Whittier and go to Jim’s homegroup meeting at 7am. Which is what we did. We got to our meeting and there they were. The first sighting of our Tribe. It was awesome and many of our friends made an appearance. Thank you Chuck, Joe, Dennis, Ron, Phil, Pepper, Melinda, Karen, Patricia, David, and the rest of our people for showing up. It was a joy to see you all!
We shared a meal with our friends and spent the morning running a few errands. Jim needed his one and only suit cleaned and pressed because it has been scrunched in a small closet on the boat for 6 months. We went and replaced my IPhone battery because my phone battery sucks, and we visited Social Model Recovery Services main office, where every single person was so glad to see us both. I know this visit made Jim very happy. He misses his job and his people. We had a nice lunch with Bruce, Jim’s successor, drove back to Whittier to pick up Jim’s suit, and then drove to Long Beach to visit with my sister Cameron, her roommate Darlene and yep, the Kitty Toby, who was adopted by them when we left for Florida. She a big kitty now and very happy in her home I’m so grateful for that! One day, I will have a boat cat!
From Long Beach we went to The Anaheim Hilton at the Convention Center. Rush hour traffic did not elude us, and both Jim and I talked about how much we don’t miss this!
NOPE!
The 2018 Western States Opioid Summit will begin on Wednesday morning. We got checked in and were greeted by Jim’s colleagues and his friends. This is an exciting time for Jim. He is back in His element and he is happy. Not that I don’t think Jim isn’t happy on our boat, I know he is, but Jim is a leader. He is respected and well liked by his peers and they were all so glad to see him. Jim spent many years helping people and saving lives. This conference, before he retired, was one of his collaborations and I know he was so proud to see it coming to fruition. #NotOneMoreDeath, is the main topic for this conference. Professionals - Doctors, Addiction Specialists, Legislators, Substance Abuse Counselors, Family members who have lost loved ones to Opioid overdoses will attend. Actor Danny Trejo, with his 50 years of sobriety, Elvis Presley’s brother, David Stanley, and about 35 other keynote speakers are at this summit, hoping to open our eyes to the crisis that is in our communities, our schools, and our very own homes. We are working to find a solution to this epidemic. Picture this - In 2018, every 15 minutes, a person will die from an Opioid overdose. How about this fact. Last year, the number of people who died from Opioid overdoses, would have filled Anaheim Stadium. Vicodin, Oxycodone, Methadone, Percocet, Soma, Heroin, and a new phenomenon that is hitting the streets, smuggled from China, Fentanyl. Add some alcohol on top of these medications and illegal drugs and we have a recipe for disaster. Human lives being snuffed out, most of the time, accidentally.
Being a recovering Opioid Addict myself, what I learned at this summit is that I have a very good God. I’m so lucky to be alive. I should not be here and I know that. I’ve been spared and I have found a solution to my addiction to pills. I don’t use them!
Jim and I had a discussion and have come to the conclusion that we still have work to do. We don’t quite know what that looks like yet, but we both have the need to continue helping people find solutions to their addictions. We both have stories to share that can help another human being find what we have found. We have hope for people. There is a solution. Maybe not globally, or all at once, but we both know you don’t have to die from Opioid addiction or alcoholism. Recovery is possible.
