Mark's Story

Yea, Mark drank almost everyday, but hey, that is what the average citizen, in Mark's category, was supposed to do. How could something as smooth and tasteful as alcohol disrupt anything, especially a life of success?

...Then it happened.

One of Mark's acquaintances introduced him to a new kind of drug. One that he could take while he was working, that did not have a smell and no one would realize he was using. One that would help him lose the few extra pounds that was attached to him and a substance that could enable him to sleep less and work more; Meth. Yes, the rest is history!

I met Mark one cold, rainy morning, sleeping on my sidewalk, outside of my business, under the eve. At first I couldn't tell if Mark was asleep or dead, so I ventured over and shook him. He was alive, but by the look on his face, I think he would have just as soon been dead. The only expression he had on his face was embarrassment and shame. I welcomed him into my world and Immediately began to love and care for this individual.

The day I met Mark, it reminded me of times when I would be working or playing out in the yard and a cute little puppy dog would run up on my property. I would hold and pet the puppy, all the time, hoping nobody would pull up and claim my new friend. That was exactly how I felt about Mark. I began to feed and water him and when he needed a petting, I was there to lend a hand and listen to him try to bark.

It only took a couple week's and Mark became a new friend to me. I brought him clothes, took his stinky dirty ones home and laundered them and I listened to personal stories Mark had never told anyone.

He was very lonely, lost and without any hope. It would embarrass him as I watched him stand at the end of the off-ramp to the highway, but he did it because he needed to eat and smoke cigarettes.

I will never forget the night, three week's later, when Mark came and admitted to me that he had been off Meth since the day we met. He was so surprised that a complete stranger would care for him, as much as I did, that he didn't want me to see him high.

Well, five week's later, my wife Peggy and myself, moved Mark into a house with other recovering addict's. At first Mark didn't want to accept charity, but we really didn't give him a choice. We insisted he accept our help, so he allowed us to move him off of the street's, where he had been living for over five year's.

Today, I went and visited Mark. He was on his knee's scrubbing his floor. He had a roast in the oven and when he hugged me hello, we both laughed and commented about his stinky odor being gone. He was so happy about his job he had just found and he told me he was in the shower two times a day.

Mark is a new person tonight, but the same person that I met on my sidewalk, out of the rain. The satisfaction that I receive when I go and visit Mark is impossible to explain. Just making a difference in one person's life, is worth all the time, effort and money I could invest. I am so privileged and honored with such a commitment and that is why I am doing what I am doing with this web site.

If you ever want to feel like you did when you was a child, waking up in the morning, only to discover Santa Claus had left a pile of present's under the tree and they all had your name on them, do something for someone who is down and out like Mark was. You will never regret it and your reward will be immediate. Thank you for listening and thank you Mark for showing up on my step. keep getting well!

Your New Friend Forever,

Grandpa Don.