Blog post

Ever feel like you're basically on a first-name basis with the CVS staff? Well, after my third trip this week, I might as well start collecting a paycheck there!   My wife needed one more script filled of course! Realizing I'm so tired of walking, I called my sister to see if she could give me a lift. To my surprise, she said yes! I threw on some clothes, mismatched socks, and shoes, and dashed out the door. There she was, waiting in her car—a sleek 2019 Dodge Charger R/T that roared to life like a lion.

As we sped towards the pharmacy, we had a chat. My sister told me she was proud of me, and let me tell you, that meant the world coming from her. This is the same sister who scraped me off the ground, tossed me into bed like a sack of potatoes, and left in disgust back in September 2024. I tried to do a half-hearted 9th Step with her right there in the car, making amends for all the chaos I’d brought into her life.

Speaking of chaos, let me take you back to when I first moved to Cedar Rapids in February 2023. I lived with my sister and her husband, along with their four cats, two dogs, and two snakes—one of which was poisonous. I was drinking heavily, and stashing bottles all over her house.  Ah, the not so good ol' days. I vividly remember one hilarious (in hindsight) incident involving her husband and Felicia, one of the snakes. I can’t recall what type of snake Felicia was, but I can never forget what happened.

Picture this: I’m lounging in the living room, engrossed in some FOX news, when out of the corner of my eye, I see her husband yank his hand out of Felicia’s terrarium with Felicia attached to one of his fingers! Felicia, apparently mistaking his finger for a juicy pinkie (a baby mouse used as snake food), couldn’t hang on and went flying across the room. The whole scene was like a low-budget action movie—Felicia hit the far wall, and her husband yelped out, ran out of the room and grabbed the first aid kit. Both were okay, and he managed to corral Felicia and put her back in the terrarium.   Felicia slithered back to her hideout in the corner, probably sulking.

My least favorite chore was defrosting those little pinkies in warm water. Trust me, it’s hell of macabre to me but I did it anyway. My sister and her husband went off to Florida for two weeks and someone had to play zookeeper.

Despite all the bullshit I caused there, I eventually moved out of their house in October 2023. This ride with my sister in her awesome car was a reminder of how far I've come and the support I have around me.  I am so blessed.  With that I'm done.  To y'all out there, stay hopeful, stay busy, and get stuff done. Until next time!  Love, Gabriel O .