January 2, 2008
New Web site
Check out this new author’s website. Since I’ve never figured out how to managed this site well, I think I may try to steer people to this new site. There are a lot of other great writers here as well.
Check out: http://www.redroom.com/author/crystal-zevon
Also, I put up a lot of photos on my facebook site for anyone who is interested.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=775119256
Filed by Crystal at 11:11 am under Uncategorized
Dear Crystal,
Thanks so much for your lifesaving book. I read it as soon as it was in the bookstores. What I learned from you and Warren is coming in handy again as I have been contacted by the sister of a man I love whom I met when I was 17 and who is now 58 and whose story reminds me so much of Warren’s. Your story of recovery reminds me of my story. The man I love has been in and out of my life since we were both 17. Fortunately, I found Al-Anon in 1987.
This is going to be disjointed.
In September of this year, he had a stroke and is in the VA Hospital in Palo Alto, California, unable to speak, unable to swallow, being kept alive with a feeding tube. He is able to write, but hasn’t written to me yet. His sister said that I may hear from him now that he has my address.
My old friend, a Vietnam veteran against war, suffering from PTSD, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2001 and told that he had 3 months to live, at which time his family contacted me. I flew to California to see him once again before he died. Previous to that, I had had to stop all contact with him because of his uncontrolled anger and drug and alcohol use, but because he was dying I wanted to say goodbye. Some healing of both of us took place.
He didn’t die but, as soon as he could, he started using drugs and alcohol again. For my safety and sanity, I had to break contact with him, although I eventually contacted his sister.
I remember from your book that Warren contacted you when he was diagnosed as terminal and that you tried to be there for him but that he relapsed and you had to take care of yourself and be there for him from a distance.
I think that is where I am right now. I love Richard. I know my limits. A friend of mine who is a hospice social worker said, “It is between him and God now.”
Just wanted to say that your book helped me and is helping me now more than I can express. Thanks so much for writing it. Thanks to Warren for his insistence that you tell the whole story.
I have had a blog since December 2007. I started the blog on the anniversary of Richard’s return from Vietnam in 1970. On that day, I had called the local domestic violence line because on that day I am always tempted to contact Richard. The volunteer suggested that I do something positive for myself so that when the anniversary came around again, I would be able to celebrate the anniversary of a new era in my life.
I created “Old Girl Of The North County” so that I could post a 40-year retrospective of my drawings and paintings. I am Richard’s “Girl Of The North Country” grown old. Writing and drawing have done wonders in my healing process. I have met many kindred spirits through blogging.
I’ve been in what I recognized today as an Al-Anon relapse since learning of Richard’s stroke on December 31 (hard to believe that only five days have passed), but am working the Steps and starting to wake up spiritually once again. I am grateful to have a good support network.
Thank you for being in recovery with me.
All the best to you in 2008 and always.
Love,
am