Thursday, August 28, 2008

I'm a glutton for punishment

(Note: all interviews went well - I'm waiting to hear back if I get second interviews now. I have an interview to be a substitute teacher on Tuesday. I'll update you when there is news!!)

My friend Danielle loaned me a book called Beautiful Boy. Many of you are nodding in recognition, because apparently I am the ONLY human on the face of the earth who hadn't heard of it. I stayed up nights reading this thing. I read it in absolute horror, but like a nasty car accident where you just have to stay in the lane so you can see the dead body in the street, no matter how much you don't really wanna. Ya know what I mean? This book was AWFUL. It was beautifully written. The characters were compelling and believable. The storyline was amazing. So what, pray tell, made it awful? It was about a perfectly normal family who loved their wonderful, brilliant, well-adjusted son, gave him every possible advantage, and he became a meth addict anyway.

WHAAAAT? I'm sorry, I think I misunderstood. Perfectly normal, healthy, brilliant, talented, well-adjusted children do NOT become meth addicts. Sorry, it's just not true.

Meth addict children happen to people who beat their kids, or neglect them, do meth WITH them or leave them alone and unsupervised for days on end while they go sell heroin or something, right? They don't happen to Mr. and Mrs. Normal America (like me), right?

The worst part about this book is that it is a true story.

sigh

So, just because I wasn't tortured enough about the possibility of my sweet, innocent, darling son or daughter becoming a meth addict during THIS book, I am now reading a book written by the son telling the story from his point of view.

I must be insane. (Remember the illustration about the car wreck? Craning my neck to see? Yep, that's me.)

2 comments:

Vegetable House said...

Well, no one can accuse you of burying your head in the sand. That's a pretty fair accusation against me, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

OK, so here you are--job hunting, not a friend in the world ;) stressed and alone . . .

Maybe read something a little more upbeat, K?

Kale

Miz C (and Burton) said...

Are you sure we don't somehow share the same blood???? As I enjoy your blog, I am discovering more and more things we have in common. (I'm so sorry)

I have always considered it "morbid curiosity." I am "drawn" to disasters, wanting to see everything that can be seen. I've always wondered if perhaps that would change if I ever had to actually "experience" one?.?.?.

As for books, I recall the evening I read either Helter Skelter or Amityville Horror. Seeing dark all around, hearing strange sounds everywhere, scared half to death...I was unable to put it down until I finished it.

Perhaps I'll cast my vote for something "more upbeat" like Kale suggested.