I'll take 10 minutes to summarize 2018 to today before I turn on my flashlight and walk through the dark forest of our backyards to arrive at the Y just before 6 AM. 

I don't recommend it but if you'd like more detail, I can refer you to a 72 page google doc titled Emily Rescue. Summer found her passion fixing up and selling vintage bikes and directing, writing, and acting in movies.  She also found Quinn Price, a tall good looking, Cornellian who speaks French, loves to travel, makes his own wine and enjoys cohousing.  Lauren's Rachel Weiss' groupchat is officially released TODAY!  I started re reading it early this morning (to be in sync with the masses) forgetting that I can't help laughing and snorting during first few pages, possibly disturbing Eric's sleep. Lauren has a beautiful marriage to Dave and 2 delightful children: Caroline and Evan. 

Eric and I are happy at work.  I love my music friends and adventures and it's not true that I cry every day.  It's only some days. What is true:  Eric is getting upset with the crying.  

So: Emily's last day at norcom was 9/15/18. Luka died at the very beginning of the pandemic: Friday 3/13/20.  Summer and Lauren started visiting Emily's small apartment every Friday night.  Soon after, Summer and Michael Camp invited Emily to live with them in a lovely apartment Lauren found near her house. 

I visited Emily every Thursday to help her with cleaning, laundry, cooking.  I had never seen anyone so depressed.  She moved so slowly and could barely enjoy a TV show.  5/5/22 on the evening before her first Ketamine session and during the fleeting moment that she had a job at MFS billing,  I recommended she pee in a cup to make sure other drugs wouldn't interfere with the ketamine. A look of horror swept her face and words spilled out fast:  "I smoke weed every day.  And play video games every day." 

Emily quit pot on her own 12/9/22.  Positive communications assisted by Beyond Addiction book helped.  Mostly I credit Emily.  She did it.  Regular drug testing settled into weekly drug tests texted to me and Eric.  As far as we know, she's still clean today. She won our 2015 Subaru outback for this and deserved it 100%. 

In 2023, when she wasn't working and starting to run out of money, Greg, a Texan 19 yo gamer boyfriend paid Emily's rent and expenses for 6 months. Late Nov 2023, Emily agreed to surrender her mouse and video games x 3 months in exchange for us paying off her credit card.  

Beginning 1/2/24, she took  winter, spring and summer classes at N. Seattle College with stellar A+ performance at the start only slipping from 2 classes/quarter to 1 plus yoga and A- by last quarter. 

We paid her living expenses and tuition during school.  Gaming got worse but relationship with Emily was protected due to Love, Eric's good sense, and Beyond Addiction book helping me to reduce my harmful interactions with my precious girl.  

8/26/24, we stopped giving her any financial support.  She has enough money for Oct rent but not Nov. Current boyfriend, Jake,  has offered a plane ticket to Orange county but not rent.  Al Anon helps me along with my self help book.  

I'll try to cry less often.  Going to play pickleball now.  Then 2 morning CCL meetings, then work, then leading the Washington State Group Leader meeting tonight as Washington state co-coordinator.