People of Safe Harbor: Ed

The day I'd interviewed Ed last week, he told me he had just that day reestablished contact with his son after fourteen years. He was happy and felt at peace as he told me his story:

"I'm not a resident; I was at one time. Through my teenage years and most of my adult life, I was an addict. My purpose in life was to go to work and make money to get high. I went to a couple of different rehabs through pressure from other people, got out, and did the same thing. January 2nd of last year, I put myself in rehab. I'd had enough. I went though their program, got out, and I went to work for this guy. Work ran out and I didn't know how to handle that, so I relapsed and for about a week I was getting high and drinking. I got another job flipping apartments, and I was owed three thousand dollars, but I was basically blown off. I went to an old habitat that I used to frequent and I stayed there: there were all these drugs there. Did that for about a month and I had enough. I came down to safe Harbor and I got in here and cleaned my act up. I started working down at Sette Luna, but it didn't last very long. I always had a knack for cooking; I'd always watch my grandmother do it, by her little side--I was the eldest grandson.  I was here for awhile and my friend had a major heart attack. Me and my friend went to see him, and I'm getting' older, you know, and you start looking at your own mortality. I left with my friend, we went to his house to watch football and he offered me a beer and I drank it. I didn't come back to Safe Harbor that night, which pretty much you;re out the door for that. hey were calling around looking for me 'cause I'm a diabetic, and they were afraid something happened to me. I called the secretary from work, told her what happened, and she said, 'Are you coming back?' I said, I guess, if I can, but I don't know if they'll let me.' When  got here that night, I wasn't allowed in. Later I talked to them and I said, 'If I gotta leave, I know I brought this on myself and there's no animosity there.' We made some conditions and they let me stay." 

Ed has since gone to NCC for culinary arts and cooks for the residents of Safe Harbor.

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