So here it is, a week since Travis passed away...Jackie is a mess and all I can do is answer the phone and let her cry. I don't know what else to do. For once in my life, I am at a loss for words. There's nothing I can do or say that is gonna mend her broken heart, so I just sit there and let her get it out. She feels such guilt for not being there at the moment he passed but obviously GOD played it out that way for a reason. She attended his funeral yesterday and aside from one person, his family was cold as ice towards her. Like it was HER fault that he died the way he did. Which is bullshit. Not a mention of her when that man adored her like I've never seen before. Travis suffered from addiction plain and simple and apparently had for years. I can't stand it when someone passes from this debilitating disease and the blame is put on someone else. Nobody forces us to do anything, we all have a choice.
If we make the choice to play chicken with our lives then we have no one to blame but ourselves if the choice doesn't end in our favor. Please understand, I'm not trying to act cold, just realistic. Nobody forced poor Travis to do those drugs that night. He and he alone made that decision. Unfortunately, his choice ended in a tragic, tragic consequence. We are all going to miss him terribly, especially my poor Jackie. Travis's death was premature and could have been avoided, but it was a choice that he made and no one else. The ugly demon we call addiction took another great soul that night, not my cousin or anyone else who has been blamed when this tragedy occurs. Furthermore, I also want to add that addiction is an illness that eventually takes away even the users free will. Without help, it becomes a necessity to survive from day to day and the temptation never goes away. For the rest of an addicts life, they will carry that demon on their back, fighting it every day. I wish more people understood that but most are quick to judge because they are uneducated on this disease. And that truly breaks my heart. How is this any different from the person that ate greasy food all their lives and ends up with some type of coronary artery disease or high cholesterol? I have yet to see someone judged for that. This is my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own, but kindly keep your negative comments to yourself. Thank you and GOD bless. I have to add that I am only sharing this information freely because it was plainly explained in his public obituary. I would never disclose such personal information if it hadn't already been disclosed by his family and was to remain private.
If we make the choice to play chicken with our lives then we have no one to blame but ourselves if the choice doesn't end in our favor. Please understand, I'm not trying to act cold, just realistic. Nobody forced poor Travis to do those drugs that night. He and he alone made that decision. Unfortunately, his choice ended in a tragic, tragic consequence. We are all going to miss him terribly, especially my poor Jackie. Travis's death was premature and could have been avoided, but it was a choice that he made and no one else. The ugly demon we call addiction took another great soul that night, not my cousin or anyone else who has been blamed when this tragedy occurs. Furthermore, I also want to add that addiction is an illness that eventually takes away even the users free will. Without help, it becomes a necessity to survive from day to day and the temptation never goes away. For the rest of an addicts life, they will carry that demon on their back, fighting it every day. I wish more people understood that but most are quick to judge because they are uneducated on this disease. And that truly breaks my heart. How is this any different from the person that ate greasy food all their lives and ends up with some type of coronary artery disease or high cholesterol? I have yet to see someone judged for that. This is my opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own, but kindly keep your negative comments to yourself. Thank you and GOD bless. I have to add that I am only sharing this information freely because it was plainly explained in his public obituary. I would never disclose such personal information if it hadn't already been disclosed by his family and was to remain private.