In the past few years, several new women in my life impressed me with their obvious tight grip on life and reality and their work ethic. I could tell they all had lived a rough life.

Sooner or later all of them told me a similar story of meth and heroin and homelessness and the hell they went thru and what it took to crawl back out of it by their fingernails.

Therapy and faith and hard work and getting their mind right, put them back in the work force and gave them the grit and determination that got my attention in the first place.

I count them as friends and I admire what they have accomplished.

I still cannot comprehend how they took that first step or how they can live with what they did while hooked. I respect them and trust them and I hope they win in life.

But, as much as I want them to do well, I know deep down I could never have them as a partner...I know I would not be able to look past the prostitution and other behaviors in their past. I damn sure hope they do find men who can, because they deserve happiness.

Last edited by mjbgalt; 08/12/22.