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Show Dear John Letters This column is presented as a community -service of Charter Summit Hospital and is written by John Waterburyr Director of Chemical Dependency Services. John has a B.A. in sociology, a Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling and has been counseling the chemically dependent for over 15 years, letters or responses may be sent to him at: , Charter Summit Hospital 175 West 7200 South, Midvale, Utah 84047 - -' ' ' 561-8181 u By John Waterbury Dear John, Usually when people write to you, it's to tell you of some problem they're having or to ask for advice. This letter however, howev-er, is a little different. I don't have any major problems, at least not today, and I don't need any advice. I just want to share something special that happened the other day. It all started at a funeral . How' s.that for getting off on the right foot? Anyway , the mother of a friend of mine passed away and the funeral was organized with the entire family in attendance. A lot of nice things were said and it gave everyone there a chance for reflection. Maybe we all need that every now and then, I don't know. Well, the funeral ended and as I was driving home thinking about life in general and the things that make my life special, I became acutely aware of several things. First of all, I was lost. It was a beautiful, sunshiny day with blue skies and white clouds, and I was so caught up with everything that I missed my turn-off and ended up out in the country where they were burning some grass and brush. The scenery and smell brought back a lot of fond memories, and just then on the radio, Simon and Garfunkle came on with "The Sounds of Silence." My day was perfect. All the problems and concerns faded away and a new appreciation for life seemed to fill everything. Somehow, things had changed. I finally found my way home and came back into the real world, but I returned with something I didn't have before. And the person who was responsible for the whole thing was no longer around to thank. If it hadn't have been for the funeral of a woman I never even met, I would have missed something special; something that will be with me for a long time; some-. some-. thing that has made a difference. I wonder if she knows? Rejuvenated Dear Rejuvenated, Somehow I think she knows. |
