At this point in my life, I did a whole lot of nothing. I had odd jobs doing construction work. I’d work a couple of weeks and then get fired. I would miss a day of work or come in late, and I drank and used on the job. I didn’t care about consequences.
People were always trying to help me, though. One winter, a kid I was hanging out with was looking for people to help shovel and plow snow. I offered to help, and he offered me a job. In the spring, he showed me the ins and outs of working on boats. I picked up a trade as a boat mechanic. I helped with tune-ups, moving the boats, and preparing them for summer and winter. I know boat engines inside and out.
Those guys took me under their wings. I was never book smart, but I was mechanically smart. Show me once, and if I couldn’t do it better than you the next time, I could tell you how it could be done better.
I was in and out of that career for 15 years. I loved it, but drinking and drugs were my main priority. Bosses bent over backwards to get me out of trouble and keep me out of trouble, but it didn’t mean anything to me. I burnt so many bridges, lost so much trust with people—good people—and I lost good jobs. I chose alcohol and drugs over everything else. My life centered on the next high.
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