Comment from Neonewman

Excellent

Man, you want to tug on someone's heartstrings and talk about a neglected cat. Damn, I was heartbroken over here. This is a great chapter, Jim. I was emotionally invested.
God bless,
Steve

 Comment Written 18-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 18-Sep-2024

Thanks very much, Steve. That was a difficult chapter for me to write too. I have a cat who likes to frequent the attic, and we keep the door propped open with a towel too so he can go in and out. I could only imagine him suffering up there like that.

reply by Neonewman on 18-Sep-2024

Yup! They are curious critters.

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

This was a good read Jim with Brian telling his story to the group but with more to come. With Brian saying his parents died by a drunk driver whereas his accident was his own fault but he lived.
cheers,
valda

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 15-Jul-2024

Thanks, Valda. Brian sees the irony of the different accidents within his family. But there isn't always a rhyme or reason for what happens. It just happens. I think Brian was glad he ended up sharing his story, including the death of his cat, with the group.

Comment from T B Botts

Exceptional

Hi Jim,
this story is coming off as really believable and the dialogue seems very real. You seem to have some knowledge of drugs. I was given Oxy for a knee replacement. I took it and even got a refill, but never finished all the refill. I was terrified of getting hooked on it. I spent a lot of years smoking cigarettes, and I knew that if I ever tried recreational drugs, I'd be probably sitting on the street with a cup in my hand begging for change, and that idea didn't appeal to me. Well done my friend.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

 Comment Written 13-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Jul-2024

My experience with opioids has been taking Vicodin for four months following surgery for a herniated disc in 2008. Although it caused great pain relief, I didn't get high from it, thus it was easy for me to taper off it, and I didn't have a burning desire to keep taking it when the pain was largely gone. I did have what I consider to be a psychological addiction to pot in my 20s, but finally gave that up when my kids were born and I had developed a case of bronchitis that wouldn't go away. It wasn't that hard to give it up.

Thanks so much for your review, Tom, and for the 6 stars too.

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

This breaks me up because my cat is Chloe also and I also spent six weeks on Oxy when I split my humerus (which is really not funny). I think I would have taken another two weeks prescription but I realized my nurse practitioner was an addict and I didn't want to start giggling at unfunny things like her. Anyway, this was a very moving chapter and it's good Julie seems to have pity for him.

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Jul-2024

Thanks, Carol. Just curious: when you took Oxy, did it make you feel high? I took Vicodin (a different opioid) for 4 months after back surgery back in 2008, and I never felt high from it. It just helped the pain. I always took the correct dosage, though. I think it may affect different people differently, though, because I've heard of other people feeling high from Vicodin.

reply by Carol Hillebrenner on 13-Jul-2024

Oxy made me unable to drive because everything was weird, and it didn't totally take care of the pain. If I dropped a paper in class, I had to have a kid pick it up because my balance was awful. Fortunately it was HS kids in a Christian school because they had fun catching me muttering words "we don't use that word here" and cracking up. Never received Vicodin.

Comment from LJbutterfly

Excellent

Even though the reader was already familiar with how Brian became addicted to Oxy and the death of Chloe, it was interesting to read how the group responded as they found out. With their eyes meeting several times, I wonder if Brian and Julia will develop a bond. I'm enjoying the way the story is developing.

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Jul-2024

Thank you, Lorraine. I debated how much of the story to retell in this scene, so I'm glad you picked up on some of the group reaction to it.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

A busy and very credible group therapy session. Managed well by Raffi, with the disruptive element of Alphonse and Henry and Brian bravely telling his story to the group, whilst very much focused on Julie for support. It also reminds the reader of all the background details and adds poignancy regarding the cat, a topic that is key to holding Julie's interest and empathy. As ever, faultless, Jim. Well done! Debbie

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024

Thanks very much, Debbie. He needed Raffi's encouragement to tell the whole story about the cat, but I think he was glad in the end that he did. Like you said, it made Julia sit up and take notice. I think it ended up being cathartic for him to get it out in the open.

Comment from royowen

Excellent

That's the trouble with strong medication, it's as addictive as any of the illegal drugs which can be pretty dangerous because it's put together by crims and can have other dangerous substances too, there seem to be so many addicts around, that it's almost normal to do drugs, beautifully written Jim, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024

They have turned into illegal drugs, themselves, and are only legally available with a doctor's prescription. They have destroyed many lives. Taken properly, not everyone feels high from them. I took an opioid called Vicodin for four months following back surgery 15 years ago. It never made me feel high, but was great for the pain. But I took the prescribed amount. When people start taking it to get high from it, that's when they get into trouble.

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Hi Jim, until a few weeks back I'd would hardly have known what Oxy addiction was. Had never heard about it. But you have brought it to the fore and I'm currently reading a novel where it features. It's a problem which needs to be addressed and you're doing that. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024

It is such a devastating drug. I saw a movie that was based on the true story of the Sackler family who owns Purdue Pharma who made the drug. They knowingly lied about it's addiction capability. They made billions off it, but eventually got sued and are now out of business I believe.

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

I'm wondering what Raffi wants with Brian. I'm sure we'll find out in the next post. I can't wait. This is an important story that needs to be told because, it's a real problem.

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024

Thank you, Barbara. Raffi will shed some further light on Brian's problem and share some things about himself.

reply by barbara.wilkey on 12-Jul-2024

I can't wait to read it.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

I think Brian opening up, may be happening too quickly and easily. I'm not sure what pace you want this to be, or how long it will be. I'm guessing the plot is simply the fall then rise to recovery of a typical teenager. Good chapter and recap.

 Comment Written 12-Jul-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Jul-2024

No, it will be much longer than that. We will go through his college years and into young adulthood. The Prologue took place when he was 32, so we've got a long way to go. We are 22,000 words into the story now, and I'm expecting it will grow to at least 70,000.

I've written close to 40,000 so far, and I'm only into his freshman year of college.