Friday
Nov272015
Bon Jovi Black Friday
Friday, November 27, 2015 at 05:35AM Happy Black Friday to my fellow Americans. I'm about to head out to grab a handful of deals. Nothing major on my shopping list this year. Still Black Friday is my favorite unofficial holiday. I'm a deal hound anyway, so if I can stack bigger sales and coupons on items I need, I love it. Just remember to double-check the sales today to make sure you really are getting a great deal. Here's an amazing concert clip of Bon Jovi live from 1988... you know, before the band sold out and went country.
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Since I've been posting here, I've shared a lot about my personal life: the good, the bad, the ugly, the feuds, the love, the peace and almost everything in between.
I was so looking forward to this holiday week-end for many different reasons, but mostly because of today. You see, as many of you know, my wife and I were foster parents for many years, specializing is raising mostly the hardest-of-core adolescent males. We raised one teenager who really (very understandably) tough- perhaps one of the thee toughest around. (I know, I'm singing "jump"). And I can write this as I've also worked as a youth mentor, TSS, CPS investigator and forensic therapist.
We raised him from age 14 to 18 and he left (literally) on his 18th birthday despite our offer that he can stay. He left with these parting words to me, "I've used you enough, I don't need you anymore". It was another proverbial punch in the gut, but by that time, I was pretty much used to it. Hey, you got to roll this those punches to get to what's real!
Over the years, when I would hear "Jump", I would often think about him and wonder how he was doing. Once social media exploded, I admit that I looked him up and followed him from afar. He had some rough times in his twenties...but who among us hasn't?
He eventually sent me a facebook friend request and we started to re-connect. I've told my therapist ALL about him and even my therapist cautioned me about opening this door. I said that I was strong enough (mentally) to know my boundaries and limitations. I got my back against a record machine. He ain't the worst that I've seen.
Anyway, this former foster "kid" turns 30yo today and is returning to Pennsylvania to have a birthday celebration. He has moved all over the Country since leaving our home, but wants to come back to his old stomping (no pun) ground to celebrate and he invited Cathy, me and the family to celebrate with him. He recently sent me an email which read in part, "You've done more for me that my own father has". Those words couldn't have been more meaningful to me. I couldn't have been prouder and it's times like these when I know I'm doing the right things in life.
Have a rock-n-roll birthday, john!. Love you more. See you soon.