Joe leaves here tomorrow. He will begin what I have termed his need to "face the music". This is intended to be a triple entendre. He must face the music of his very short, yet intense relationship with an acquaintance of mine, he must return to London soon and face whatever charges or accusations regarding him he may encounter there, and he must face the music within his soul. He must try to conjure the poetry and melodies of his newly formed perceptions. He must face the music of his past, while listening to the heartbeat of his present. All this while staying true to the dream of a future. And, he must stay sober.

He'll be spending a few days in Sacramento at my mother's house. Although she doesn't understand the full nature of Joe's addiction(s), mom adores Joe and they get along like peas in a pod. Joe has that ability in general. He can sit and watch Sponge Bob with my teenage daughter for hours, yet will turn around and discuss with me the nature of neutrinos and their effect(or not) on metaphysical reality. He is quite the chameleon and has a smooth natural charm that he has come to realize is much better off without the consumption of alcohol. His shared London upbringing with my mother allows her the opportunity to make her famous Shepard's Pie and other delights that only the British could love. I have never been one for British cuisine (do they have one?) and much prefer my mother's Jewish cooking. Joe also loves spending time at my club in Sacramento. He likes the warm sun and cool pools nearby, and he likes to laze in the spa area watching sports and relaxing. I will arrange for him to access the club as he wishes.

I feel extremely confident in Joe's ability to remain sober. He has integrated the teachings within PREHAB although he would never admit to it. Part of why I like to rehab people in a familial setting is so the natural process of learning is allowed to unfold. In this way I only have to be a guide and interpreter. This is always the best sort of counseling as it affords your client the opportunity to figure things out for themselves even though they are very gently guided. It requires a very gentle touch as a good therapist does not want to color the perceptions of the newly rehabilitated. Conclusions must be generated for themselves. Since I have finally gotten the time I have always craved with Joe (his very addicted person and a very busy schedule recording and gigging has required an 8 year rehab process!) Joe has been able to focus on pulling himself from the past and is now able, for the first time in a long while, to look at his present circumstance with a sort of detachment as he realizes that he is no longer the dark personage he was for 3 decades. He is now a Being of positive energy and light. He has pulled himself from the mire of his past and planted himself squarely in the now. This allows self examination in a new light and this makes forward moving plans for himself possible. It also allows him to look at his past actions as just that: past actions that, although he would no longer initiate, he is still tied to and will have to face consequences for. Physically he has never been stronger and he has gained 8 pounds since coming here. He looks awesome. Hair cut, shaved and in clean, new clothing. He performs his adl's consistently and now understands the relationship between esteem and love (see the book). Thinking good thoughts creates good happenings and helps form healthy relationships.

I am a bit disappointed with our inability to go too far from home vocationally, although I never thought Joe would ever think about doing anything other than being a poet and a songwriter. He insists he wants to perform and that that is a large part of his dream. This is something I would not argue with. I am grateful for the brief time he was able to visit a disabled center as I think it may plant a seed within him that someday could produce a tree which might bare fruit. I continually encourage him giving of himself and doing for others as often as possible. I feel like following him home and watching as he moves through the next few weeks of his life, but I realize that is impossible, and in fact, not needed. He has everything he needs within himself. I will see him Saturday when my middle daughter, Kayla, graduates from UC Davis this weekend. There will be a party and we'll see one another there, check in, then I'll return to Tahoe and he'll be off to SFO and onward to Heathrow early Monday morning. I will miss my friend and wish him well as he faces the music of his new life.