Marnie said it well with "very sad, very painful". I was 3 weeks into the program,at the age of 13, living with a Wayne B. They only had one son and were quiet people. They really tried, got me presents and all. I was miserable. My family was fun and noisey, especially during X-mas.
I earned talk for a "present". Thanks.
Next year,1981 i have not been able to remember specifically. I may repost on that(probably sucked if i "don't remember") later.
X-mas 1982 found me making second phase for Thanksgiving, as I had been tipped that my family was coming to visit me in exile in Atlanta beforehand. I quit misbehaving and made 2nd in a like 10 days. Hell, I'd been there longer than jr.staffers. I knew HOW to do it. I had a great weekend with them and got extra time off from group even only second phase.They left and I realized I would be stuck for the 3rd X-mas and wouldn't see them again. Then I split. GTG See- ya assholes. 727 to TIA with a guiltstricken mother finally saying enough was enough. I will never forget that last few hours in ATL when I had been split for 2 or 3 days and called them, and asked if it could all be over and I just want to come home for christmas. I felt so terrified that Miller Newton would work his snakeoil on my dad again and get me dragged back in. I cried to my mom and dad, outside a 7-11 somewhere on a cold december night in Atlanta, to let it stop. They kept their word for the first time in 3 years.
Bill
[ This Message was edited by: tampa survivor on 2002-08-04 19:59 ]