Our world is undergoing immense changes. Never before have the conditions of life changed so swiftly and enormously as they have changed for mankind in the last fifty-plus years. We have been carried along...with no means of measuring the increasing swiftness in the succession of events. We are only now beginning to realize the force and strength of this storm of change that has come upon us.

Though none of us are yet clear as to the precise way in which this great changeover is to be effected, there is a worldwide feeling now that changeover or a vast upheaval is before us. Increasing multitudes participate in this uneasy sense of an insecure transition. In the course of one lifetime, mankind has passed from a state of affairs that seems to us now...to have been slow, dull, ill-provided, and limited, but at least picturesque and tranquil-minded, to a new phase of excitement, provocation, menace, urgency, and actual or potential distresses. More and more, our lives are intertwined with one another...a worldwide morass, and we cannot get away from that fact. We have become nothing more than nondescript, political pawns in a "winner-takes-all..".global chess game.

"It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he breaks, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt." John Philpot Curran in a speech on "The Right to Vote" in 1790:

"It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he breaks, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt." John Philpot Curran in a speech on "The Right to Vote" in 1790:

Our world is undergoing immense changes. Never before have the conditions of life changed so swiftly and enormously as they have changed for mankind in the last fifty-plus years. We have been carried along...with no means of measuring the increasing swiftness in the succession of events. We are only now beginning to realize the force and strength of this storm of change that has come upon us.

Though none of us are yet clear as to the precise way in which this great changeover is to be effected, there is a worldwide feeling now that changeover or a vast upheaval is before us. Increasing multitudes participate in this uneasy sense of an insecure transition. In the course of one lifetime, mankind has passed from a state of affairs that seems to us now...to have been slow, dull, ill-provided, and limited, but at least picturesque and tranquil-minded, to a new phase of excitement, provocation, menace, urgency, and actual or potential distresses. More and more, our lives are intertwined with one another...a worldwide morass, and we cannot get away from that fact. We have become nothing more than nondescript, political pawns in a "winner-takes-all..".global chess game.

Political correctness appears innocuous enough until one truly looks at the ripple effect created by today's manipulative players looking for an advantage. Political correctness is a lie because saying it isn't so, doesn't change the facts...the facts are that pigs don't fly and life "ain't" fair This charade has become so ingrained in our culture today that no one is willing to call it what it is; a facade for a culture of entitlement based on denial and rejection of responsibility. While political correctness has been solidifying its place in our lives for some time now, it has recently been joined by its natural adjunct partner...socialism. Our current administration has decided it knows what's best for us in spite of a majority of voters expressing an opposing opinion. But my real fear is that his agenda and ambitions are going to destroy America... Obama is not the first president with a large streak of narcissism. But the others had equally expansive feelings about their country. He epitomizes today's "me" culture with their "it's not my fault" mentality supported by their entitlement attitude. He is the embodiment of everything that is "wrong" with America today...he is the maestro of the blame-game (mistakes will be made, but others can be blamed). We have misplaced our traditional values while buying into the liberal's progressive mindset. Our losses have been mounting for decades and the accumulative consequences are coming to bear. The list is endless: common sense, common courtesies, responsibility, accountability, integrity, family values, love of country...and God. I'm not suggesting he caused this decline in America's moral values; but I would suggest his radical vision for America...and beyond, is to take what we see today to the next level. From his distorted perspective he is myopically focused on shepherding us to what's "right" for America.

Political correctness appears innocuous enough until one truly looks at the ripple effect created by today's manipulative players looking for an advantage. Political correctness is a lie because saying it isn't so, doesn't change the facts...the facts are that pigs don't fly and life "ain't" fair This charade has become so ingrained in our culture today that no one is willing to call it what it is; a facade for a culture of entitlement based on denial and rejection of responsibility. While political correctness has been solidifying its place in our lives for some time now, it has recently been joined by its natural adjunct partner...socialism. Our current administration has decided it knows what's best for us in spite of a majority of voters expressing an opposing opinion. But my real fear is that his agenda and ambitions are going to destroy America... Obama is not the first president with a large streak of narcissism. But the others had equally expansive feelings about their country. He epitomizes today's "me" culture with their "it's not my fault" mentality supported by their entitlement attitude. He is the embodiment of everything that is "wrong" with America today...he is the maestro of the blame-game (mistakes will be made, but others can be blamed). We have misplaced our traditional values while buying into the liberal's progressive mindset. Our losses have been mounting for decades and the accumulative consequences are coming to bear. The list is endless: common sense, common courtesies, responsibility, accountability, integrity, family values, love of country...and God. I'm not suggesting he caused this decline in America's moral values; but I would suggest his radical vision for America...and beyond, is to take what we see today to the next level. From his distorted perspective he is myopically focused on shepherding us to what's "right" for America.

By this point in our lives (my target readers) we've all heard the old adage "You can't go home." But what does it mean? As life winds down and the drone of existence begins to wane, I'm feeling an intangible desire or need to reach back into my past and reconnect with a by-gone time and people...living and/or dead. It feels like an elusive melody that seems distantly familiar, yet strange and unidentifiable. If all the above sounds like a premonition of the inevitable, I agree and accept that my time is ticking away. But it's not about dying...it's about going home I'm not afraid of dying, but I do struggle with the reality that I will no longer physically exist. I have to wonder if the term "going home" isn't a misnomer and maybe...just maybe, we're trying to return to "Neverland" (Fridays With Landon). When we were very young we searched for that elusive, utopian community...and studies have shown that in our declining years, we slowly revert to our childhood. Another line-of-thought is that it's all just a mirage. We know and accept that a man can be dying of thirst, in the middle of the driest desert, and his mind will anesthetize him by creating the illusion of an oasis. If we can acknowledge that phenomenon (the mind's coping mechanism) then it shouldn't be much of a stretch to reason that the elderly possess those same innate coping capabilities...to ease their journey home. Of course their mirage would be about "going home..".not to a place, but to another time. What is the driver for this (apparently) universal pilgrimage? I have to wonder, even compare it to an addict's motivation (The Path to Addiction)...one more trip down that path of pleasant memories even as the host is being sacrificed.

By this point in our lives (my target readers) we've all heard the old adage "You can't go home." But what does it mean? As life winds down and the drone of existence begins to wane, I'm feeling an intangible desire or need to reach back into my past and reconnect with a by-gone time and people...living and/or dead. It feels like an elusive melody that seems distantly familiar, yet strange and unidentifiable. If all the above sounds like a premonition of the inevitable, I agree and accept that my time is ticking away. But it's not about dying...it's about going home I'm not afraid of dying, but I do struggle with the reality that I will no longer physically exist. I have to wonder if the term "going home" isn't a misnomer and maybe...just maybe, we're trying to return to "Neverland" (Fridays With Landon). When we were very young we searched for that elusive, utopian community...and studies have shown that in our declining years, we slowly revert to our childhood. Another line-of-thought is that it's all just a mirage. We know and accept that a man can be dying of thirst, in the middle of the driest desert, and his mind will anesthetize him by creating the illusion of an oasis. If we can acknowledge that phenomenon (the mind's coping mechanism) then it shouldn't be much of a stretch to reason that the elderly possess those same innate coping capabilities...to ease their journey home. Of course their mirage would be about "going home..".not to a place, but to another time. What is the driver for this (apparently) universal pilgrimage? I have to wonder, even compare it to an addict's motivation (The Path to Addiction)...one more trip down that path of pleasant memories even as the host is being sacrificed.

While this book is technically a sequel, the hope was that there would never be reason to continue the first book's storyline. That book was left open-ended because we can never be sure of an addict's long-term sobriety. Given the longevity of his addiction, his drug of choice and history of failures, the probability was high that my son could relapse again. He had been clean and sober for 30 months (18 months in prison and 12 months back home) before his regression was triggered by a prescription pharmaceutical. Vicodin was prescribed and that led my son back to the streets for methadone and from there it was just a matter of time before reconnecting with his old friend, heroin. My son's meltdown and the mind-numbing ugliness of the fallout are documented in-depth, during the early chapters of this book. In an effort to better understand the profound difficulties that addicts struggle with, and why they seem powerless to control their lives, the mid-section of the book is devoted to research. The book covers addictions in general, the history of worldwide drug usage, the pros and cons of the various treatment programs, the debate over the difference of opinion regarding the numerous models, the causal triggers and the pharmaceutical companies. Every addict has two personalities, but the general public only sees the manifestation of the unsightly one...the good one goes unnoticed, even when they're clean and sober. The indistinguishable one is no different than you or me; he's just overpowered by his unwanted tenant...addiction. I'm trying to point out that no one "wants" to be an addict. Once clean, the addict knows that he must always be strong and vigilant because his co-pilot isalways waiting in the wings for his chance to once again, take over the flight controls.

While this book is technically a sequel, the hope was that there would never be reason to continue the first book's storyline. That book was left open-ended because we can never be sure of an addict's long-term sobriety. Given the longevity of his addiction, his drug of choice and history of failures, the probability was high that my son could relapse again. He had been clean and sober for 30 months (18 months in prison and 12 months back home) before his regression was triggered by a prescription pharmaceutical. Vicodin was prescribed and that led my son back to the streets for methadone and from there it was just a matter of time before reconnecting with his old friend, heroin. My son's meltdown and the mind-numbing ugliness of the fallout are documented in-depth, during the early chapters of this book. In an effort to better understand the profound difficulties that addicts struggle with, and why they seem powerless to control their lives, the mid-section of the book is devoted to research. The book covers addictions in general, the history of worldwide drug usage, the pros and cons of the various treatment programs, the debate over the difference of opinion regarding the numerous models, the causal triggers and the pharmaceutical companies. Every addict has two personalities, but the general public only sees the manifestation of the unsightly one...the good one goes unnoticed, even when they're clean and sober. The indistinguishable one is no different than you or me; he's just overpowered by his unwanted tenant...addiction. I'm trying to point out that no one "wants" to be an addict. Once clean, the addict knows that he must always be strong and vigilant because his co-pilot isalways waiting in the wings for his chance to once again, take over the flight controls.

The words contained within the covers of this book are intended to speak to some of life's ups and downs. Life encompasses a multitude of components that require daily maintenance and/or management.and your judgment in those areas will drive the direction of your existence. Life will, sooner or later, introduce you to the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in-between.humor, joy, sadness and the always-present mystery. The author believes the words in this book to be universal.although not universally spoken nor acknowledged. Richard's odyssey has been continuous from the denial of his rural Arkansas roots to his acceptance in "Phase Three." While the Greyhound bus physically transported him away from his disdain.and provided the escape from his dysfunctional family, the relocation only skewed his perspective. California was a world apart from Arkansas, and without an education and/or a craft.life would severely test the author's fortitude and determination. It would resemble a scavenger hunt as he chased his always-moving, always-fading demons for personal understanding. This book began simply enough as letters to his son (the second of two from the author's second marriage) who was/is also seeking self-understanding. The son was serving prison time for drug usage and drug-related crimes stemming from twenty years of abuse. Added to that, his son, Landon, is afflicted with epilepsy and the combination (epilepsy and heroin) can produce deadly consequences. His son's first letter not only requested that his father correspond with him, but that he fill in the gaps of his life.his words were, "Dad, I know nothing of you before our family." The father was taken aback.he had rarely, ifever, thought about his past life.much less verbalized it to others. Initially, as he reflected on the request, he wondered if he even remembered anything about his past.or had he buried it so deeply (through denial) that he would never be able to resurr

The words contained within the covers of this book are intended to speak to some of life's ups and downs. Life encompasses a multitude of components that require daily maintenance and/or management.and your judgment in those areas will drive the direction of your existence. Life will, sooner or later, introduce you to the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in-between.humor, joy, sadness and the always-present mystery. The author believes the words in this book to be universal.although not universally spoken nor acknowledged. Richard's odyssey has been continuous from the denial of his rural Arkansas roots to his acceptance in "Phase Three." While the Greyhound bus physically transported him away from his disdain.and provided the escape from his dysfunctional family, the relocation only skewed his perspective. California was a world apart from Arkansas, and without an education and/or a craft.life would severely test the author's fortitude and determination. It would resemble a scavenger hunt as he chased his always-moving, always-fading demons for personal understanding. This book began simply enough as letters to his son (the second of two from the author's second marriage) who was/is also seeking self-understanding. The son was serving prison time for drug usage and drug-related crimes stemming from twenty years of abuse. Added to that, his son, Landon, is afflicted with epilepsy and the combination (epilepsy and heroin) can produce deadly consequences. His son's first letter not only requested that his father correspond with him, but that he fill in the gaps of his life.his words were, "Dad, I know nothing of you before our family." The father was taken aback.he had rarely, ifever, thought about his past life.much less verbalized it to others. Initially, as he reflected on the request, he wondered if he even remembered anything about his past.or had he buried it so deeply (through denial) that he would never be able to resu

The words contained within the covers of this book are intended to speak to some of life's ups and downs. Life encompasses a multitude of components that require daily maintenance and/or management.and your judgment in those areas will drive the direction of your existence. Life will, sooner or later, introduce you to the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in-between.humor, joy, sadness and the always-present mystery. The author believes the words in this book to be universal.although not universally spoken nor acknowledged. Richard's odyssey has been continuous from the denial of his rural Arkansas roots to his acceptance in "Phase Three." While the Greyhound bus physically transported him away from his disdain.and provided the escape from his dysfunctional family, the relocation only skewed his perspective. California was a world apart from Arkansas, and without an education and/or a craft.life would severely test the author's fortitude and determination. It would resemble a scavenger hunt as he chased his always-moving, always-fading demons for personal understanding. This book began simply enough as letters to his son (the second of two from the author's second marriage) who was/is also seeking self-understanding. The son was serving prison time for drug usage and drug-related crimes stemming from twenty years of abuse. Added to that, his son, Landon, is afflicted with epilepsy and the combination (epilepsy and heroin) can produce deadly consequences. His son's first letter not only requested that his father correspond with him, but that he fill in the gaps of his life.his words were, "Dad, I know nothing of you before our family." The father was taken aback.he had rarely, ifever, thought about his past life.much less verbalized it to others. Initially, as he reflected on the request, he wondered if he even remembered anything about his past.or had he buried it so deeply (through denial) that he would never be able to resu