Day 196 - "CV of a Recovering Heroin Addict"

Friday, 8 June 2007
Day 196 - "CV of a Recovering Heroin Addict"


We’ve all known since January this year that things were going to change at the office. Those that have followed the blog know that the office moved to a new premises, changed owners and that certain staff changes would be imminent. That time is upon us now!

There is ‘too much staff’ at the office at the moment, as indicated by management on a daily basis. Too much staff! For six years I haven’t taken leave because nobody else could do my job or I couldn’t take leave with my mom because nobody else could do hers. Now… we are too much staff!

Somebody at the office will probably have to go. And whether it is me or a family member or a friend – somebody will leave here with nothing! Out of everybody at the office I am the youngest and perhaps more likely to find other work. More likely however doesn’t guarantee that I will find anything.

If I weren’t still paying off a lot of my drug debt I think these events would be less of a problem. I have learned to live on the minimum amount of money since my heroin addiction and must say I surprised myself at how well I’ve been doing that. Still, I need a steady income to keep the ‘credit departments’ away!

My job seeking has now forcibly turned up a notch from casually keeping an ear on the ground for available positions to aggressive searching for new employment. And whether I think I’m clever or cute or a hard worker there are a few things hindering my job seeking.

I might be a fast learner or eager to expand my knowledge but since school drugs seemed to be my homework and I never furthered my qualifications. I was in an accident early on this year and my car was written off, which means I don’t have my own transport. And of course, the ever lingering heroin addiction which is still widely known in certain circles.

Perhaps it is a good idea to hand in my blog with my CV – maybe that will help!

Day 193 - "Free to be Me!"

Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Day 193 - "Free to be Me!"

One of my friends invited me to go away for the weekend at the end of the month – to Cape Town. Now, this is a trip more a 1700kms from home and includes my very first plane flight - anywhere. Of course, since “the heroin addiction” I have not taken a trip anywhere from home especially not with somebody my parents hardly knew.

At the moment I still have to ask my parents if I as much as want to go to the shop around the corner, so I figured that going away to Cape Town for a weekend would most certainly warrant some mention and would probably raise concerns. I was really surprised that all my worry about asking them was really needless in the end when they agreed without argument.

The plane tickets have been bought, the car has been rented, so I guess it is really official. There is no turning back now. I can’t wait to see Cape Town again and will undoubtedly see some of my family members. I feel like I’m ready to explode with excitement. And even though I have no doubt that Cape Town, the people, the venues and the scenery is all contributing to this ignition of feelings, there is another more important reason…

I want to live a normal life again, perhaps live a normal life for the very first time in my life. I want to be free… free from longing, wanting or taking drugs. And this trip marks a lot of that for me. It is not so much about me actually going – it is about being trusted enough to let me go, to be liked enough for me to be invited and to feel comfortable enough inside to actually do it!