Change

Frey, James. My Friend Leonard. 1. New York: Penguin, 2001.

As I continue to read My Friend Leonard, I continue to realize it is all about change. James, the recovering drug addict and alcoholic, turning his life around to live a sober life because if he doesn't his chances of surviving are slim to none. When I first began reading A Million Little Pieces, I immediately made a connection to my life. I have two older cousins, who are both recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. As I continue reading this book, I become scared, scared of what my own cousins are going through. The scared times, the temptations and heartache. It breaks my heart to think about what they have been through, the choices that they have made, and how they were wasting their life away for so long. As I look at them now, I see Corey, the older one (27) who is turning his life around, he is in culinary school and looks to open his own resturant sometime soon. He is changing his life for the better, and becoming the person that we all knew that he could always be. While I look at Pete, the younger one (24) my heart breaks. His story doesn't have as much of a happy ending. He was sober for around a year, he was doing okay and everybody was excited. His daughter, Gabbie (3) who he named after me, loved her dad more than anything. When one day, he dissapeared. He was juts gone, no call, no nothing, just gone. He went to his parents house when he knew they were gone, stole their personal items, and sold them. His sobriety was lost, and he was gone. I wish I could say that things have changed, but they haven't. He still vanishes, abandoning everybody and everything, taking no responsibility. My big cousin, who I loved with all my heart, was changed and not for the better. As I read along in the story, I would find myself crying at times, wishing that Pete could have changed for the better and found his way to a better life. I wish he knew, how much I love him, how much we all love him, we just want him back. James had his family, they loved him but they couldnt support him until he changed his life around. I continue reading, almsot done and read the journey of James as it fills me with emotion. I have faith in Pete and wish he knew how much I am worried about him. I love you Pete, and wherever you are, I hope you're okay.