Post B

Dear Anthony,

While reading your memoir, I am continuously frightened for your life. The only reason that I am able to read on is that I have the knowledge that you are alive. The amazing, yet stupid things that you did nearly daily during you childhood are quite surprising. When I think of a druggie, I will now think of you, but I also think of you when I think of amazing success stories. The fact that you overcame China White and coke to lead your band in becoming one of the most popular in the world is startling.

In health class last year, we learned a lot about addictions and the fact that you overcame heroin and coke and were speedballing and doing all sorts of crazy stuff is surprising. According to our teacher, those habits are nearly impossible to break, but you did it. The media has such a huge influence on people these days, and they always associate drugs with terrible people; the scum of the earth. But you weren’t that bad. You were just a teen struggling with an addiction, but you had the whole world ahead of you. Although you dropped out of college and emotionally hurt a few people, you really meant good because you were always trying to break the habit, just like the Lincoln Park song.

“‘I’m in a band, I’ve got a couple of dollars in my pocket. I’ve got a beautiful, sweet, hot, sexy, crazy little girlfriend, a roof over my head, and some dope.’ Those feelings would disappear, and the next day I’d be off on a run. Jennifer would do her best to deal with my insanity, as she was slowly working on her own (177).” In this quote, the first two sentences are what he was thinking when he was high, and the last two are what happened the next day when he had a “run”.