Thursday, September 29, 2011

TARA JO

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The main reason we came to Butte was to be able to spend a little bit of time with my great niece. For those of you who haven’t been followers for very long, Tara (who is 23) is in a halfway house trying to get her life back on track after being arrested.

Trying to get to see her is a lot like trying to see the gold at Fort Knox. We didn’t realize that her keepers need seven days to do a background check on us and they said no, we could not come visit her at the “place” she lives. So now what.

Tara talked to her case manager about us and got permission from her to be able to join us for dinner. However, it had to be within walking distance of the “place” because we aren’t approved drivers. There was a restaurant only two blocks away that she really wanted to go to so it worked out great.

I truly don’t understand all their rules. Most of them really don’t make a lot of sense to me but not being in that environment I’m in no position to make any judgment calls. Everybody lost computer and library privileges because someone had gone to a porn site. So even though they know who it was, everyone suffers. Lots of learning experiences.

Tara is doing very well. She’s willing to obey the rules, she treats the “powers” with respect, and does everything she is supposed to do. She wants out of there as soon as possible. Tara is extremely intelligent and is an anomaly in this world. Of the 50 women at the “place”, she is the only one who does not have a child. She is one of the very few that is not an intravenous drug user. She graduated from high school. She cares about her appearance.  I could go on and on, but she stands a much better chance than many of these women of staying out of prison when she gets her freedom.

IMG_3098 She has a job – works at a Town Pump not too far from the “place”. The problem for me is that this part of town is really a sleazy area. This includes the “place”. In fact, I walked her back home after dinner because I was nervous for her. Too far for Jim to walk so he followed us in the truck. She works at Town Pump from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Scary hours. The good news is that they give her a ride to and from work even though it’s only about five blocks away.

IMG_3101 She has bad days and when she goes to her AA meetings she has to walk by a bar and she told me how tough it is. But overall, she’s really positive about the whole experience and made the statement that for the first time in her life, she feels good about herself without having to use anything. Definitely progress.

I sure do love this girl. Tomorrow we’ll go see her at work. Yes, we can do that without getting her in trouble.

15 comments:

  1. As someone who is in recovery myself ( we are never " cured",) this program may save her life. Thanks for your support of her. It is very important to her. If you want to become a part time volunteer after your security check I bet they would welcome you. My wife and I are one night a year volunteers. Christmas eve every year we are Mr and Mrs Clause to the kids !!

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  2. Sandie, She is so lucky to have the support you and Jim are giving her. It truly is One Day At A Time in recovery as really it is with everything.

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  3. I am impressed with what Tara Jo is doing to improve her situation. She's a beautiful girl, and, as you say, she has a lot going for her, especially compared to some of the others. The half-way house is a wonderful step for those that need that kind of structure. I'll bet that taking away the computers of all the residents is to help them learn to work as a team and to learn that their decisions affect others. Even the sleazy neighborhood is something that she and the others will have to learn to work through and learn how to be safe, both in body and in mind.

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  4. She is luckier than many in that her downfall came when she was in her twenties. Hopefully he will succeed in her recovery and be able to go on to live a full adult life. Mt thoughts are with her.

    I have a son going thru a similiar trial. But he is in his 40's. Wasted so much of his life.

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  5. It's so important for a person in Tara Jo's situation to have support from family, and I'm so glad you are able to show that support.

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  6. It sounds like she's on the right track. I don't understand the rules about visitors, but I guess they have their reasons.

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  7. "for the first time in her life, she feels good about herself without having to use anything." I can sure identify with that feeling and well know the struggles she is going through. I hope she keeps up with the AA meetings. There is a lot of strength to be gained from this program and it's many helping hands. I send my best wishes for Tara Jo......I know her journey is not easy.

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  8. What a beautiful girl! She is so Blessed to have you two in her life. You are also so Blessed to know that she is so driven to correct a mistake. Her attitude is so positive. You brought tears to my eyes with this blog. As a retired teacher, I know that I would be frustrated when rules were made AFTER one or two kids did something wrong and EVERYONE had to suffer. I would try to talk some sense into the teacher or principal that it wasn't fair...but... My love and prayers go with Tara Jo!

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  9. My youngest son has been clean and sober for over four years now. I hope Tara Jo will find the same strength that he did. Those AA and NA meetings can truly be life savers. She needs your support.

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  10. Tara looks like she is making every effort to get back to life as normal, we have had our trials with my youngest brother who served two prison terms.He is fortunate that each time his employer gave him his job back as soon as he was released.My Grand nephew isn't as lucky everytime he fills out a job app the question is on it, "Have you aver been arrested for a felony". It is the kiss of death for getting a job.We pray all goes well for her and give her our encouragement.Sam & Donna...

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  11. Such a pretty girl. We wil hold her in our prayers. My kids both had some rough times, it is so hard on kids these days and so terrifying for the adults to watch.

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  12. You should be so proud of her. And, she should be so proud of you. I can't imagine you not being approved drivers. Don't tell Jim that!!

    Good luck to her. She's definitely on the right path.

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  13. How wonderful that the two of you are active in her life! How awful that she has to be in that mix... I hope it allows her to realize the other side of life and how it could turn out for her if she were to take a wrong step again... It will be a constant struggle for her, for sure!

    So strange that they would not allow you to come in their doors, but they allow her to go to a place where "anything" could come through the doors???

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  14. The "place" has to be strict to help their clients. Most of their friends and family would see bringing forbidden items as " helping" the clients. That goes for driving them to wrong places as well.

    The next important step for Tara Jo will be to find healthy community beyond the half-way house. That one is really hard. I hope she finds a really good AA sponsor to help her. My oldest bother is proof it can be done. Another relative is proof of how easy it is to backslide into the wrong community. I think Tara Jo will be one of the ones who make it.

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  15. What a beautiful girl! So good u both got to see each other, i am sure the support is very important to her. She has alot of courage.

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