Me, but I did. I also made it past 40 and 50, and it looks as if I'll make it to 60. However, my best friend, Walter, drowned in front of me at the age of 26. A lover, Joanne, died of a heroin overdose at the age of 28. Another good friend, Terry, died in an accident on the job when he was only 34, but I guess that doesn't count. He had just read my weekly column in the local newspaper, said to his buddy, Terry, "Boy, Burl wrote a good one this week," stepped out of the truck and was instantly hit by a car. I can't even find his grave-- one of those new-fangled cemataries with no tombstones allowed-- only plaques in the anonymous rarely-mown grass. I fucking hurt about 50 different ways. However, I am alive-- God's ultimate punishment. (I don't feel well today, as you may have noted.)
Thudly, my friend you should cheer.. I understood the feeling.. I was about 22 - Heroin and pot were the most popular drugs out.. I had never tried heroin out because I was afraid of needles, but as I felt my fear was sinking, I went on up to my friends house... There he was, high on heroin, turning a dark blue greyish color. He ended up dieing of a heroin overdose right in front of me. I never tried heroin and after that experience - never will... My grandson (who is 19) experienced the death of a friend through heroin also. Anyway, I made it to 30 and through my 30's. Surprising... Many times during my 20's and 30's I thought "Well this is the end... I'm gonna die". But look at me now!
I am very surprised to still be on this earth...and I will hit the 50 mark in a couple of weeks...so evidently my purpose hasn't been served here yet.I made it through a 5 year herion addiction,I have been flatlined 3 separate times from "speed-balls",coming to in an emergency rooms,only to thoroughly shock the med techs.I have watched all my old friends either die or be put away forever in some cell some place to die as a ward of the state.Now comes the time when the old saying;"if've I would of known I was going to live this long,I would have taken better care of myself"...is so very true.But I am still very grateful that I have made it this far....and I look forward to the next 50 years.
Never thought I'd make it either.....A good amount of my friends are dead..OD...Betweeen the drugs and booze I surely did'nt expect to be here....Just keep wonderin how long I have.
