This weekend I drove back to the city of my youth to attend a memorial service for a friend from my childhood.

In the face of death, we say yes to life and celebrate the person who enriched our lives.

Those of us who, like me, knew the child and the teen, heard of her later struggles with pain and loss

and her dedication to helping others. And those who only

knew her later in life learned of her young desire for a boyfriend, a car and a job.

And together we all came to know a view of the wholeness of this friend, this sister, this daughter, this aunt, who has now departed and in so doing we help her to live on in memory in the ways

she changed the lives of everyone around her and in our love. These words by Alicia Carpenter capture for me a bit of who my friend was, how she lived and how she touched those around her.

Just as long as I have breath, I must answer yes to life.

Though with pain I made my way, still with hope I meet each day

If they ask what I did well tell them I said yes to life

Just as long as my heart beats, I must answer yes to love. Disappointed pierced me through and still I kept on loving you. If they ask what I did best, tell them I said yes

to love.

Welcome to episode 155 of the Recovery Show.

Because I drove 900 miles this weekend,

and in memory of the loss of my friend,

I'm replaying an older episode about loss in its entirety

I hope it speaks to your life. Welcome to episode 76 of the recovery show

this episode is brought to you by Jennifer. She used the

donation button on our website. Thank you Jennifer for your generous

contribution. This episode is for you. We are friends and family members of alcoholics and addicts who have found a path to serenity and happiness.

We who live or have lived with the seemingly hopeless problem of addiction to understand as perhaps a few others can. So much depends on

our own attitudes and we believe that changed attitudes can aid recovery. What do you do

...