The day from hell began at 5:00 AM. Lloyd wakes up too darn early some days. Today would have been ideal for sleeping in, maybe even skipping.

Aaron calls ME, of all people, to help him out. He's left the Salvation Army shelter, where he was in waiting for at least ten days until a rehab center became available.

He walked to the Terminal Tower, took out $20 and called me. He was having a panic attack on the phone. He said he was writing suicide notes all night and hadn't slept in four days (he's usually not nearly so dramatic). He's also quite strung out from having the valium ripped out of his brain. The roomful of about 150 guys who hadn't known a home in at least ten years was too much for him. And if you bought Aaron a shirt or socks for Christmas last year, he passed them along to some guys who really need them.

So I packed him another box of stuff, this time a bag. I threw another one of his Big Books in there as well. (He won 2 copies at AA meetings. How lucky is that?) My dad-in-law came over to sit with the boys while I picked him up and took him to the best free rehab in town. I looked up their number on my Mac directory and found myself talking to a guy working their Bingo. He happened to have recovered there and pointed me in the right direction to a place no one would ever find on their own. He also said he knew they had a couple beds available and just showing up there would give him a good chance of being helped.

I went in with him just to be assured I wasn't going to get another phone call a half hour later asking for a ride. The counselor Jim said he had to honor a waiting list. I asked what he would do if I left him there. He said he can't just drive him somewhere but that there are places that can help him. I asked what he would do if I left him there. He said maybe Aaron was better off there than with me, WHICH I FOUND HILARIOUS. I said, "Yeah, he is. So, I'm going to leave" He said, "Well, I have a couple beds--" I waved bye and left him.