Fly With New Teeth

I was on the phone when Eli (my 70 y.o client) stood outside the door of my office, grinning ear to ear. I made a gesture to come in. He pushed the glass door, stepped in and closed the door behind him, still grinning. I was away for five days and now I noticed something new, something I didn't notice about him two weeks ago.

After I hung up the phone, I turned to face him directly and still trying to figure it out what did I miss. He was still grinning, no how are you doin' Ana as usual. His face seemed fuller. The hollows in both of his cheeks were gone. They looked fleshy as a matter of fact.

Then I gasped, "Oh my goodness Eli, you got a new set of teeth. How wonderful."

"Oh boy Ana, my jaws are hurtin' now. I thought you never noticed my new teeth. How are you doin' . It's good to see you again."

Six months ago Eli was one of *seasoned addicts in recovery who believe only a Recovery Specialist in recovery understands the mind of people like him. When he learned that I would be his counselor he didn't like one bit.

"What do you know about recovery?" He challenged me one day during a group session. "You don't even smoke. What are you going to tell me, I already knew."

Two years ago when the first time I came to this House, I was stump when the client said the same thing to me. I was angry, upset, annoyed at the them to question my ability, and most of all my ego was crushed and stomped over and over.

But, when I look back at the past two years I've been at The House, I know working with challenging (honey dipping difficult) clients are the most rewarding experience anybody could ask for. I've learned so much from them.

Next week Eli is having another surgery on his left eye and the week after a surgery for his prostate cancer.

During a gratitude meeting this morning, one of Eli's buddies joked about Eli's transformation.

"Are sure you are here for a recovery or for a makeover?"

There is no guarantee when these men complete the program and move on with their lives, they will stay sober for the rest of their lives. Most of them have been active more than half of their lives. The most important thing I hope they could bring with them when they leave the program is to use the tool they have all along but didn't know how to use it in a positive way. Their minds.

Comments

[anasalwa]

Diz,
You're right, some of us might not be chemical dependents, but we have some issues that worth to look at too.

[Diz]

That's some powerful stuff in your last statement. Thanks for the reminder. It's even useful for people who are not chemical addicts, but addicts of other sorts -- love addicts; negativity addicts; etc, etc.

[dale]

(o)