Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press

Circles and Spirals: Stu Jenks' Newsletter #5: 5/23/2022

"Coalmine Canyon East, Navajo Rez, Arizona" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks. 

1) First things first. I got COVID, probably on the plane coming back from Arizona. Yeah, shit. Thank God for the anti-viral medication Paxlovid and having been vaxxed four times. Still was a rough 4 days, fever, chills, coughing, really bad sinus headaches, but today I still have a bit of brain fog, some congestion, a little bit of a cough and a mild headache. Really glad I'm not in the hospital. Really glad I'm not dead. 

2) Went to visit Tucson on the 4th of May. Came back on the 12th. It was wonderful, to see old friends and to simply walk the land I know so well. Went to Coalmine Canyon at sunset, a personal spiritual place I've visited for over 35 years. It's changed some with many tourists now, many meaning any. (Back in the day, I would see no one at all.) That day, I ran into a pair of irritated German tourists who didn't know how to behave, and selfishly had to get their shoots right away, ignoring the fact that there was a guy right there, me, who might have given them some history and some warnings about the place (There are wild dogs there from time to time that will tear you up), but I didn't let them ruin the moment too bad (OK. A little). I took my shots and then I just soaked in the space. It's an amazing space. Feel free to visit, just be respectful. Included here are a few of the best shots I took. By the way, the tall massive hoodoo in the distance is called The Ghost. The place is haunted, say both the Hopi and the Navajo and me. Over the years I have felt the spirits and it's no joke. They are mostly friendly ghosts. Mostly. 

3) I miss my home in the desert. A lot. From the baked eggs at The Cup Cafe to the tortillas at Le Estrella Bakery. But mostly I miss the people, my art community and my recovery community and my friends. All the above. Here in Greensboro, I'm getting to know a few people, but I lived in Tucson for over 35 years. You make a lot of friends in that time, if you're not a jerk. I can be a bit much at times but I'm not a jerk. Thanks everyone who showed me such love and kindness during my time in Tucson. Means the world. Hope to be back soon. 

"La Estrella Bakery, South 12th Avenue, Tucson, AZ" (c) 2022 Mural by Ruben Moreno, image capture by Stu Jenks. 

"  "Old MLK Apartments, Downtown Tucson, AZ" (c) 2022 Mural by Ignacio Garcia, image capture by Stu Jenks. 

4) I still have a bad left leg but I was able to walk a bit in Arizona. Walking the flats near the Mustang Mountains south of Tucson was a joy. Hiking up Cathy's Fault, north of town, just hurt like a son of a bitch, but I had to go up it anyway. At the Mustangs, I drew an spiral on an anthill, for me sure, but also for two people I know who are dying of cancer, and for their friends and family. One has died, the other close to passing. It's very sad. Both are way too young. Both are way too sweet. I'm not praying for their souls. No need. In my belief system, everyone is going to Heaven or a Heaven of sorts. But I do pray for their loved ones who are left behind, grieving, sad. May all of you feel held by God, by me and by all who love you. 

"Spiral for Kris and Al, Mustang Mountains, Arizona" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks. 

5) One of the most memorable moments of my trip was when I was sleeping in my car on the Hopi Rez, along the side of the road one night. It's not a big thing. No one will bother you if you nap in your car. Just lock your doors. Anyway, in the middle of the night I got up for a minute and went outside. I gazed to the south and saw the Milky Way. Not unusual to see it if you are out in the boonies, but what made me say 'wow' out loud, was seeing our galaxy stretch all the way from the Southern horizon, almost all the way to the Northern horizon. I had never seen it stretch that far north. The sky seemed both close enough to touch and a billion miles away. Marvelous. The next morning I thought of dropping in on my Hopi friends but it was way too early to do that. I took an image of their village instead. The Youvella and Kinale families and all the others, may your days be blessed. Hug the kids for me. 

"Polacca and Nipple Butte In The Distance, First Mesa, Hopi Rez, Arizona" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks

6) Again, got back from Tucson, safe but not sound. Pretty sure I got COVID on the plane when I sat next to someone who I believe may have been sick. Frankly 2/3 of the plane were unmasked. WTF. Anyway, I'm out and about again. Took a pic of Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair along a little-traveled train track in rural North Carolina. Went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, to get my fix of looking-far-into-the-distance. It's good to be home in NC. It's a little odd to feel at home in two places, one in Arizona and another in North Carolina, but it's certainly better than not feeling at home at all. A lot of people are homeless too you know, and just as bad, many people don't feel like they have a home even though they have a place to live. Alexa and I am truly blessed. 

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Beaver Dam Branch, North Carolina" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks. 

7) Alexa got the COVID too, from me don't you know, but she is much better now too. We are both grateful that we didn't get that sick. She says hey.

"Pink Dogwood On Our Street, Greensboro, NC" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks. 

8) So that's it for now. Thank all of you who sent prayers and good wishes on the social medias, texts, IMs and phone calls during our illnesses. Alexa and I are very happy to be on the mend. One last thing: Alexa's dad, Norman Smith, lives just down the street. Over the past week, he has dropped off fresh strawberries from his garden. As the wise man said, that does not suck. Alexa and I do live in a lovely part of the world. I know I may be overusing this word today, but we feel truly blessed. And you too. Have a blessed day. Saying that doesn't mean you are religious. It just means you are grateful. 

Love, light and luck, 

Stu

"The Road East, Coalmine Mesa, Navajo Rez, Arizona" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks. 

 

Circles and Spirals: Stu Jenks' Newsletter #3: 4/21/22

"PTSD" by Clarence Heyward, acrylic and gold leaf on canvas, 2020. Image capture by Stu Jenks. 

 

Hello everyone,

1) Currently some of Clarence Heyward's work (pictured above) is being shown at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, NC. This show is shunning, presenting the work of 30 emerging artists. Entitled, "Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now", it'll be up until July 10, 2022. I've been three times already to visit this show. I can not recommend it highly enough. 

The featured painting is very large, guessing 5 feet tall at least. And yes, that is the Pledge of Allegiance in gold leaf behind the figure. 

2) Maundy Thursday service at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, here in Greensboro, was as good as it gets. Washing of the feet. Reminding the congregation of Jesus's last commandment, "... to love one another...", the stripping of the altar, all very nice. (And to be clear, I'm not a Christian but I was raised in this Church. I do believe in a God of sorts, cosmic muffin or intuitive thought, but I don't believe in the Risen Christ. I'm more Buddhist and Deist than anything else. And yes, I believe in the ghostly presence of my ancestors in my life. Got that belief from a Native American friend years ago.) But what made me cry was a professional singer, a lovely baritone, singing "Where you there...", that old powerful slave song from almost 200 years ago. Just wonderful.

3) Not so wonderful, my prostate cancer has returned, but only a little bit. Probably the size of the head of a pin. It's a long story but the type of radiation that one cancer center planned for me was very destructive to the good surgical work of Dr. Juan Chipollini 2 years ago. Currently, I don't poop nor peed on myself and everything is working great down there, if you know what I mean. The shotgun blast radiation would change all that, possibly making me permanently incontinent, messing up my colon, and destroying my current sexual function, also maybe for good. This depressed me a lot as you can imagine. Until I remember that great medical school at my alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, just an hour to the east. There, I found a new urologist and radiation oncologist who does a very pinpoint radiation using a machine called the Cyber Knife. Great name. Appointment is in early June for this second opinion consultation but I'm already sold from what I've read. And my new doctor is more patient oriented in her care. I'm much more hopeful. Quality of life, baby. Quality of life.

4) The tenth anniversary edition of my first novel, Step Zero is completed and being converted to e-book-ness and soon to be uploaded to the book printer. I'll be making some book-books, but they are expensive. Soon, you'll be able to buy the e-books for either $1.99 or $.99. Attached here is the new cover art for the book. (Thanks to Michael Joplin, for turning me on the the null set symbol. That was brilliant.) 

and 5) lastly, here are some images from recent print sales of mine. I have a big inventory but I'm always, always interested in what people buy. Perhaps you are too.

Love you guys.

Thinking about y'all, and holding you in white light, as the Woo-Woo man says.

Stu. 

All images (c) Stu Jenks 2022, except for "PTSD," (c) Clarence Heyward 2022.

 

 

"Sharon & Lorenzo H., Magnolia Wood, North Carolina" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks [Extended Family Series]

“Sharon & Lorenzo H., Magnolia Wood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021, 54 inches tall.

Price: NFS. In the collection of S & L H.

 

So who in the devil are Sharon and Lorenzo. Well, I'm not saying. Heck, that's not even their real names. I know them from a certain 12 Step meeting I attend regularly and I love them both a lot.

"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding use to place principles before personalities." as it says in the 12th Tradition. It was hip to be a member of a 12 Step fellowship back in the 1980's and 90's, at least in Tucson, Arizona and parts of California. Not anymore. There is a stigma now. That's to be expected I suppose, but I think I need to be mindful that not everyone is going to applaud that I'm a member of A.A. or C.A. Many people have been hurt by addiction and some people have be hurt by people saying they are working a program of recovery. It's sad but true.

Anywho, here's some more 12 Step ramblings from me.

 

There are many slogans and sayings in 12 Step groups, some I hate, many I like.

“One day at a time.”

I love that phrase. It’s not an original thought from the AA founders but it’s perhaps one of the most powerful and longest lasting.

“JDFD. JDFU. Just don’t fucking drink. Just don’t fucking use.”

Love it. This may be specific to Tucson 12 step but I’m not sure. We are cussing sons of guns in the Sonoran Desert.

“Think, think, think.”

Not a fav at all. I understand this is about thinking before you drink, but I’m a feelings guy. How I'm feeling is a more important question to ask that what I thinking, and isn’t obsessing and the obsession a good half of the problem? I’m not against knowledge, science and wisdom, but too much thinking and not enough feeling has gotten me and a lot of other people in trouble.

And then there are the musings from a guy I'll call Indiana Rob. Been listening to his words for decades.

“I know I have another relapse in me, but I don’t know if I have another recovery in me.”

So true and so sad. Many who leave recovery don’t make it back. Frankly, they die years before their time and hurt a lot of people along the way.

“In the past, I used God as a spiritual Valium.”

I hear you brother. I did that too. Classic Rob chestnut.

“You can’t make an alcoholic drink but you sure can make ‘em thirsty.” Testify, brother. You got that right.

This is just a couple of Indiana Rob's great shares from the past.

And then there was Nathan.

Nathan has been dead for decades but he was valuable member of AA in Tucson, Arizona. He died way too young from cancer but he was sober when he passed. Even these many years later, Nathan is still quoted, particularly this one statement:

“If beating ourselves up worked, we would all be well now.”

Rest in peace, Nathan. You mean a lot to many.

#stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries, #12stepstuff

 

"Where am I and what time is it?"

“Where am I and what time is it?”

I think I was around three years sober or so, the late 1980’s. I was walking around Monument Valley in Utah. You know the place. Right Mitten, Left Mitten, John Ford movies. I had parked at the visitor’s center and had walked a half of a mile or so toward The Three Sisters, three tall pillars of sandstone off one of the mesas. I was obsessing about something; either not having enough money or some woman or my job or I really don't remember what I was thinking, but I was driving myself crazy.

Then I remembered Ram Dass’ 1971 square blue book, Be Here Now. I didn’t remember much from it, but I did remember the concept of being present in the moment, staying there as best I can, and how important that is to happy living.

I looked around at the stunning desert beauty of Monument Valley. I gazed up toward The Three Sisters and then back at The Mittens. I smiled and shook my head.

I’m fucking this all up.

I’m off living in Future Land, worrying about something I can do nothing about, at least right now. I’m in Monument Valley, for Christ’s sake.

Then, I thought of a sentence. I believe I said it out loud.

“Where am I? I’m here. What time is it? It’s now.”

I took a deep breath and settled into the moment. I took another breath. Then another. My worries didn’t completely disappeared but they sure did lessen. I continued to smile.

“I need to share this in a meeting when I get home,” I said to myself.

And I did.

And I have.

Fast forward to 2021.

I was in a early morning A.A. Zoom meeting from Los Angeles. Then I heard a member of that group say this:

“It’s like one of our group member's says, ‘Where am I? And what time is it?. I'm here. It's now."

I stared disbelievingly at the screen. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I didn’t think people really listened to me that close. I smiled weakly and my eyes misted up. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

It was a very good morning.

 

 

(Photo credits: "Monument Valley Road, Utah", "Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Monument Valley, Utah" and "Nannie's Mirror, The Three Sisters, Monument Valley, Utah" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

“To The Addict Who Still Suffers, Magnolia Wood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021 [Extended Family Series]

“To The Addict Who Still Suffers, Magnolia Wood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021, 50 inches tall, $150

Price: $150, shipping included. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu.

 

[Nothing I write here on this site is the opinion of any 12 Step group or world service organization. They are only mine. Yes, I'm violating a Tradition or two by posting this, but, in this time of social media, it doesn't appear the Traditions matter was much as they used to think. I can still hurt AA and CA with my opinions but I'm truly trying not to do that. Anyway, I speak for myself, no one else.]

 

In 1985, after having been sober for around 6 months, I told my therapist Dan Mayercek that I wanted to write a book about my life. He laughed loudly. I pouted.
“Every addict wants to write a book,” he said. “I’d wait on that.”
I pouted some more.

In 2012, I wrote a recovery, post-apocalyptic novel, Step Zero, set in the year 2076. That book and the three others in the series featured recovery and recovering folk but it was mostly a tale about how hope and love can grow even in the worst of times. I do think I got the 12 step meetings right in the books, but the Step Zero series became more about the characters’ lives and struggles and not just about their recovery from addiction.

So here I am, in North Carolina in 2021. Over the past couple of years, I’ve made a bunch of walking sticks and other wall pieces, honoring friends, family and other people I admire. One of those sticks is for the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W.

And then a dangerous thing happened. I thought I might have something to say. I have been sober for 36 years, don’t you know (doesn’t mean I know anything) and I have worked in the recovery field for over 25 years as a therapist. (There, I’ve learned some things, or at least I think I have.)

Here’s how it gets complicated. If I was simply a counselor sharing my opinions, that’s fine, but I’m also a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous and publicly, I’m not even supposed to say I’m a member. But I just did. Nothing, nothing, I say here is the opinion of any 12 Step fellowship as a whole. It’s just what I think and what I think I know about recovery. And by the time the sun goes down, I may have changed my mind on some things, so take all of this with a container of salt.

So here goes:

Below is my assessment of the 12 Steps. I use the plural ‘we’ instead of the singular ‘I’ because that's how the original 12 Steps were written. This is supposed to be funny but I also believe it’s true.

 

The 12 Steps In 60 Seconds by Stu Jenks.

 

Step One: When we drink alcohol or do drugs or whatever, our lives go completely to hell and all rational decision-making goes straight out the window. We’re screwed.

 

Step Two & Three: God, or something greater than ourselves, can help us become unscrewed. We choose our own ideas about God. God Is Love will work for instance.

 

Steps Four & Five: People can help us too. And we might as well take a good hard look at yourselves while we’re at it.

Steps Six & Seven: There’s going to be other stuff we’re going to have to work on throughout our sober lives. Forgive ourselves as best we can. Forgive others too.

Steps Eight & Nine: There’s a bunch of people out there who would really appreciate a sincere apology from us. Commit to being a better person in the future. Recovery is not simply about not drinking or using or whatever. It’s about being better.

Steps Ten, Eleven & Twelve: Keep doing what we’ve been doing up to this point. Continue to be sweet. Give more to others. Be willing to change. Try to be happy. Oh. And don’t drink alcohol or use drugs or whatever, while you doing all the above.

 

“We’re here and we’re free” is the motto of Cocaine Anonymous. We are free from cocaine and all mood altering chemicals and it doesn’t cost a thing to be a member. We’re also physically here for you too, from Los Angeles to Cape Town, South Africa. We are all here to help. We truly are.

 

I’m not an 12 Step fundamentalist. I believe much has been learned in the treatment of addiction and mental health since Bill wrote the Big Book in the mid 1930’s. To paraphrase the popular AA speaker, Bob Earll, “I’m not going to get brain surgery from a doctor who, the last book he read on the subject was written in 1935.” That being said, the simplicity and brevity of the 12 Steps are a marvelous spiritual path that deepens with each passing year in sobriety. And I’m really happy that the surgeon who took out my prostate in 2020 had a robotic video game as a tool, not just a sharp knife like how they did that surgery 20 years ago.

 

I’m grateful that when I got sober in the mid 1980’s, the concept of toxic family shame and the importance of owning and sharing one’s feelings was at the forefront of psychotherapy. To be blunt, if I didn’t learn from Dan, Levi and other therapists I saw, how to identify and express my angers, fears, shame, guilt, and sadnesses, and how that related to my family of origin and what I experience as a child, I don’t think I would be sober today, but less be joyful. And if I were sober without psychotherapy, I would probably be very stuck, miserable and more than a little suicidal. I have my difficulties now but I’m not hopeless at all. I’m reasonable happy most of the time, and I think I make other people happy too. To quote another AA member from years ago, “I didn’t get sober to be a doormat and to be miserable.”

 

OK, that's it for now. More sober musings will go on my site in the future. Unless the internet goes crazy over what I've just said. I sure hope it doesn't.

Love and light, Stu.

 

#totheaddictwhostillsuffers, #stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries, #12stuff

“Bill W., Red Maple, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021 [Extended Family Series]

“Bill W., Red Maple, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021, 40 inches by 5 inches.

 

Price: $150, shipping included. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu.

 

Bill Wilson was one of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and the author of the book Alcoholics Anonymous (also known as The Big Book) and the book, Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions (also known as The 12 and 12.) If you want to know more about Bill, wiki and google him and you'll find tons. Also, the documentary film, My Name Is Bill W. is excellent.

In a later post, I'll have a few things to say about recovery, therapy and treatment in general, but not here. Respecting the 12 Traditions and all that.

But Bill W. is definitely part of my Extended Family. 

JDFD. ODAAT.

 

#billw, #stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries

“Ira Hayes, Dogwood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021 [Extended Family Series]

“Ira Hayes, Dogwood, North Carolina” © Stu Jenks 2021, 58 inches tall.

Price: $150, shipping included. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu.

 

Ira Hayes was a Pima Native American man. He was one of the flag raisers on Iwo Jima during World War II. He died young at age 32. They say he died drunk from exposure in a ditch near his reservation in Arizona, but now there are some doubts about that. He probably died in a bar fight and his body was then dumped in that ditch. No autopsy was ever done.

I'm very moved by Ira's story. I'm also from Arizona and I am also an alcoholic, but I had the luck and good grace to get sober in 1985. From what we know, Ira had terrible PTSD after the war, and drank to deal with his pain.

And back in the day, I could have easily died in a bar fight, in a traffic accident, or from my own hand. I never fought in a war, except for the war inside my own head, mostly prior to 1985, and a few days since.

I'm only sober because of a "daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition." And also because of the love, tolerance and help from a lot of good people. Thanks, guys.

Rest in peace Ira. Love you, brother. You are family to me, in a sad and unusual way.

By the way, Johnny Cash wrote a song about you. I think you would have liked it.

 

#irahayes, #stujennks, #extendedfamilyseries

All images by Stu Jenks, except for the sunset image of the Washington Monument. That one is an image capture of a 1950's postcard, found in my mother's stuff after her death.

 

Step Zero: The Special Illustrated Edition for free, right here.

Right here, a free pdf download of my novel Step Zero: The Special Illustrated Edition.

Yep, I'm giving shit away.

Sometimes I have to do that for people to buy my other work, but in this case, I just want people to have this. I worked hard on this, and I think this is a pretty good book. Plus the hardbound book is way too expensive for most people to buy, and the paperback Step Zero edition doesn't have the groovy graphic pen images in it.

So here you are. All 688 pages of images and words. Hope you dig the book.

P.S. This is a hard R-rated book, with drug use, graphic sex and brutal murder. Just so you know. It also has sweet songs, funny lines and touching relationships. It's not all rough, but parts of it are.

Love y'all.

Stu.

Again, here's the free pdf download of the illustrated Step Zero novel.

 

“Lynn Shelton & Marc Maron #2, Saguaro Ribs, Arizona” © 2021 Stu Jenks [Extended Family Series]

“Lynn Shelton & Marc Maron #2, Saguaro Ribs, Arizona” © 2021 Stu Jenks, 64 inches tall.

Price: $295, shipping included in the price. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu. (This piece is no longer for sale.)

 

I've met Marc Maron a couple times at small shows in LA where he was workshopping his next stand-up comedy hour. Much like his persona on his podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, he is anxious, sweet, grouchy, delightful, talented, intense and kind. (A friend's wife had committed suicide the day before I saw him in LA. He was very compassionate to me in the ten seconds that we talked before his gig.) Actually, Marc doesn't have a persona. Marc is Marc wherever he goes. It's why we love him so much.

I've been listening to WTF pretty much since the beginning. His twice-weekly conversations with good folk has gotten me through hard times. His podcast always delights me, uplifts me, makes me laugh. I never fast-forward through his initial 10 minute rant before the show. Sometimes, that's the best part. And Marc is an amazing interviewer. He actually listens to people and you can tell.

Marc has been married twice and has had his share of drama in his romantic relationships. So have I. So have we all.

Then he met Lynn Shelton, the amazing director/writer/actress/filmmaker. After a bit, when they were both single at the same time, they fell in love. I was so happy for Marc that he had found true love with Lynn, someone who fully grokked him. He, like I, are acquired tastes. It takes someone special to find us delightful. Lynn found Marc a delight, as Alexa my wife finds me. I'm a lucky man. Again, Marc and I aren't friends nor acquaintances. I just listen to his show and watch his work on TV. But I was very happy for him. (You really feel like you know the dude if you've listened to him twice a week for a decade.)

Then, last year, in May of 2020, tragedy struck. Lynn died suddenly of an previously undiagnosed leukemia. It happened fast. One day she was here, a few days later, she was gone.

I had recently had my own radical prostatectomy cancer surgery and I was slowly healing up from that, when I read the news on my phone. I literally said out loud, "Oh no! Marc! Oh, no!"

Marc grieved in public on his podcast. He was honest with his feelings with all of us. He stayed sober. He inspired many with his expressions of grief. We all were moved.

So I made Marc one of my walking stick/wall pieces and mailed it to him. Sadly, the stick got snapped in half in the mail. Yeah, I know. Sucked. I thought I had packed it well. Guess not.

I looked around my studio and found these saguaro ribs. This will work nicely, I thought. Two saguaro ribs married together. It even kind of looks like Marc and Lynn, at least to me. I haven't mailed it yet to Marc or maybe I'll sell it instead. Marc doesn't live or die over getting some of my artwork. It's truly the thought, the thinking, the caring, that counts.

We love you, Marc. 

Thanks for all that you have done for me and for many others. Your light shines brightly in this world, even when you yourself doubt its strength.

Stu.

P.S.: End Times Fun is a master work, and Sword Of Trust always makes me cry. I miss Lynn too. JDFD.

Photo of Marc Maron and Lynn Shelton by Greg DeGuire.

#marcmaron, #lynnshelton, #stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries.

“Alex F., Beech Wood, North Carolina” (c) Stu Jenks 2020 [Extended Family Series]

“Alex F., Beech Wood, North Carolina” 56 inches tall, (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

Price: Not for sale. Wall piece to be delivered to Alex's mother, hopefully in the near future.

 

I need to be careful here. Respect the Traditions and all, but I guess I don't really have to be now.

Alex was a very good kid. Committed to his recovery. The chairperson of a Cocaine Anonymous meeting I attended regularly in Tucson, Arizona. He loved his mother and we loved him.

Tragically, he relapsed into active addiction, and just when he was preparing to enter residential treatment again, he died from an overdose.

I miss him. So does his Mom. So do a lot of other people.

Rest with the angels, my good man.

#stujenks, #alexf, #extendedfamilyseries