Addiction

I finished reading A Million Little Pieces today and amidst the craziness of kids and cats in the house, I paused and breathed in the intensity of that book. Yeah, yeah, it’s an Oprah Book Club pick and it sells for a penny on Amazon, so it’s as mainstream as they get and probably very predictable to most people and who cares about the topic of addiction and have you heard about the critical reviews of the author’s credibility and it’s so exaggerated and and and and.

And I loved that book. It was disgusting and romantic and muddy and ruthlessly raw. It reminded me that I’m human – and that I have to stay the course, no matter what. It reminded me that my brother has a chance – a 17% chance at best, but he has a chance to live a full, healthy, productive life.

Unlike Tweak, A Million Little Pieces takes place in rehab, so you’re not on the streets with him. I wanted to hug him, I wanted to walk with him, I wanted to see him grow and love and fight. Like Tweak, I wanted him to be alright, but I was repulsed by him… so socially unacceptable and selfish. But it turns out that his selfishness protects him and allows him to flower.

The book gives me lots of opportunity for me to reflect – it is so incredibly inspirational.