Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > The Seed Discussion Forum

my friend was in the seed, and now he is dead, thread.

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cleveland:
I am sad to hear about John Grimm. Here's my memories:

John coming to visit me at the little house on Clague road when I was a newcomer in Cleveland. He drove a little Triumph Spitfire and always brought his own 6-pack of Diet Coke (most of my oldcomers where giant guys, in the Cleveland tradition). He always had a big, friendly grin. I think he worked as a welder. Later I remember him coming to Florida with his wife and child. I am sad to say, I kept my distance, because of the weirdness of a Seed guy with a wife and child, and because (you could always tell) he seemed to be on 'Seed probation' for some reason.

I remember he and his wife and baby having their own separate area at the beach when we played football on the weekends, because they didn't fit into either 'guys' or 'chicks.' Weird to think of that.

Oh well, he was a sweet-natured guy and I wish the best for his family.

wtaylorg:
I remember John G. as being one of the volunteer staff members in Cleveland when I came in.
My memory of John Grimm involves when he came back to the Seed and went on the program again in Ft Lauderdale, early 80's right? After sometime he went back to work 2nd shift as a welder at one of the docks in Ft. Lauderdale.
My job was to pick him up in the morning about 8 or so when he got off work and drive him back to his apartment where he lived with his wife & son. I don't know why he wasn't driving himself, but that was what i was told to do.
This went on for a few weeks. One day I picked him up as usual, he said he was very tired and layed back in my car seats. I had a '63 Olds, with the bucket seats went far back.
He sort of seemed to be sleeping and then all of a sudden he said he needed to stop at a gas station to use the bathroom. I obliged and when he came out he got in the car and said he was going to nap.

I dropped him off and thought nothing of it and went back to the Seed.
Sometime later, Bob W, came and got me off the door and asked what John and I had been doing? I said nothing, he gave me the "Seed stare" and I verbally repeated what had occurred.
Bob said John's wife called the Seed and said that John had came in high on heroin. I was like "wow" I didn't know. Later, I was told he admitted to staff that he had shot up at the gas station. But, because all I had ever seen prior to coming to the Seed was pot smoking, I didn't know the signs.

I guess he started over and I never was asked to pick him up again. But, For the rest of my time down there I avoided him, partially  mad at him about that, because I myself was always on Seed probation. And it took some convincing on my part to get them to not put me on the front row as well.:smile:
But, obviously the guy was trying to do change his life, otherwise why would he have gone back down there.

He waas one of the good guys.

Anonymous:
John was a bear of a man with heart to match his size. He came to the back in the mid 80's because he had started to use drugs again and wanted to go for a second round to kick the habit.

When John first came back he was sent to live in the guy?s house that I used to live in and John was the second new comer to come in on the program to live where I was at. It must have been around early 1984 and I was still on the program when this took place.

John always had a smile or laughing and was very happy to be back, it always seamed to me that he tried very hard to carry his load but always seamed to very self conscience how he was viewed by the long timers and how he thought he was perceived (as a fuck-up). Thru-out the years I noticed that about a lot of the people who had come back to the Seed for a second time. It was very common and evident how people struggled to convince themselves that their words were true, due to the fact that they felt they had failed with their past attempt at staying straight.  

  At this time I was going thru my issues and perceived him as a friend, fellow Seed kid, rival and a bunch of other conflicting emotions. I can remember him relating in the group once on what seamed to me an endless talk about himself, and as I listened the more bored and frustrated I got until Bob W. notice and gave me a stern stare from the rap leaders stool. In time I remember this incident and took it as a testament to my own immaturity and selfishness.  

After a couple of months his wife Beth moved down to live with the Seed girls bringing with her John their baby son who was about 2 years old at the time. After a short period of time John was allowed to move in with Beth and little John in an apartment in which they could restart their lives anew down in South Florida.

During this time I lost some of the closeness I had with him as (I thought) he concentrated on his family and mending that relationship.This lead to a very strange and volatile confrontation on the beach late one afternoon. As it turned out Beth had become pregnant during this time and I guess had gone to Libby and confided this information to her. Libby told Art about this situation and Beth and John were told that due to their financial situation the best decision would be for Beth to get an abortion. Beth and John disagreed with this and Libby went ballistic turning this into a big confrontation at the beach in front of the whole group. John and Beth along with little John walked away never to be seen of heard of again. As they walked away Libby informed the group what a couple of assholes they were for not listening, never for once thinking about the magnitude of such a decision would leave on someone for the rest of their lives.  
   
The incident left such an impression on me and for the first time (while I was at the Seed) leaving me with a moral dilemma and I must admit I secretly sided with John and Beth.

Ft. Lauderdale:
A bear was a good discription.  Quite a lovable one at that.  I have not seen him in years.  But just thinking of him puts a smile on my face.  He will be missed.

Ft. Lauderdale:
Does anyone know what city he lived in?

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