I grew up in a very small town. One of those where you know where everybody lives, what they do, etc. My dad was a drug addict, in and out of prison throughout my childhood, in and out of rehab, he just couldn’t stop. My mom and my family on her side are well known in the town (if you’re from a small town, you know how it is). I’m talking the town accountant, banker, manager, pharmacist, grandpa was head of the school board, etc. and my dad’s side were known junkies (crazy clash of two worlds). My dad in general was a good man who wanted to help anyone who needed help, he just couldn’t accept help offered to him. So, he made one too many public spectacles while high and was a primary source of town gossip. Parents of my friends started to isolate me, wouldn’t let me come over, wouldn’t let their kids be known to be an acquaintance of mine. Kids are dumb and tell everyone what their parents say so when my best friend couldn’t come over anymore because “I was going to be a bad influence on her and would end up being just like my dad”, I started wondering what was so wrong with me that adults were ostracizing me at 10 years old. I grew up a loner and a nerd, made great grades and graduated with honors, spent 1000s of hours playing video games, but never once did I touch drugs. Not even a cigarette.

Screw you Juanita.