The J-Spot

 Is there a right way to do it? Image courtesy of flickr and edited by the author You have to give it to the magistrates. We think how difficult it must be to exact a ruling that may change peoples’ lives forever. But is it the judgement or the act itself that really changes history? The fact is, oftentimes it’s both. I arrived at AA one evening to a guest speaker on the stand. It was the thirtieth anniversary of the night he had killed his best-friend by being drunk behind the wheel at eighteen-years-old. He recounted the incident with glossy eyes yet unwavering resolve. Later I would find out it was because he speaks on a weekly basis in schools, at luncheons, in military academies, and at recovery meetings across the country. His name will remain anonymous due to the AA creed, but a quick google search will turn up tons of similar stories that have led young offenders to a life of public speaking. They all do it for the same reason; because they may save a singl...

 Don’t let the Devil Suck You In Photo by Aggressive Site I very wise person once said, “It is not the emotion that is ever wrong, only one’s reaction to it.” As a young man I was managing a band. It was a group of extremely talented individuals. Travis was the best, because he had this upbeat rhythm to all of his experiences, no matter how hard. Which is funny, because he was the drummer. But the rhythm of his Life was even more beautiful than his drumming, which was extraordinary. Boy, was the singer. He has the most harmonious voice, but he often screamed so loud and rageful that you wouldn’t understand his words. It was grunge rock, so that was to be expected. But boy (no pun intended) could he harmonize. You should of heard his beautiful sonnets! I often fantasized about being up there singing where he was. Who didn’t? But, I was just the manager. Though they often referred to me as their inspiration. Maybe it was back then that I got my first cue from God that I sho...

     As Jim Gaffigan said on his comedy tour, and it applies to everything in adult life, " It's funny how our out look on alcohol changes during our lifetime. It starts out as something we know is wrong. As teenagers we say, 'I don't really like the taste of it, but it's kinda cool,' then it turns into something we think gives us confidence to fit in with the opposite sex during our early twenties, and by the time we reach our forties we're like, "Ya know what, this is the only thing I like about being alive ."      He roused a laugh at that statement, but only because it's true.      It's funny to think back to when we were kids and how wonderful it was to be unaccountable for our sins. I would argue that the reason alcohol, smoking, prescriptions, and illegal drugs are America's favorite past-times, has a lot to do with our desire to recapture that feeling all over again. That sense of unaccountability. Back then we were just kid...