The way I see it, driving takes time, and so does learning.
The difference between childhood and adulthood is equivalent to the difference
between learning to ride a bike without training wheels, and learning to drive
a car. The best thing that I could do for myself was to learn how to embrace
life. When you are thrown out into the adult world without any warning, as I
was, then your take on life is a bit stunted.
My older sister had a drug problem. She also had two beautiful
daughters. Abbigail was two years old at the time, and Natalie was just three
months old. When everything went awry, I was seventeen, still in high school
and still living with my parents, as I should have been. But all of a sudden,
everything collapsed around us. We found out that my sister Cassie was addicted
to crystal meth. What?? Cassie? No way! She was always so straight-edged and
prissy. It’s got to be a mistake! And with two beautiful reasons to cherish
every moment of life, how could she have a drug addiction? Unfortunately, it
was true. And within a month of us finding out, Cassie’s fiancée had left her, she
was homeless, and she didn’t have a job because she had been a stay-at-home
mom. So her only option was to move back into our parents’ house. It was a
small place, with only two bedrooms. After about a week of sharing a room with
my moaning, screaming sister (who was going through withdrawals) and her two
infant daughters, I realized it was time to go.
So I was thrust into the world of adult life. I had to find
a place to live, get a job, support myself and still manage to finish high
school. Not graduating high school was not an option for me. I was hell-bent
and determined to have a better life. But when you are stressing over things
like rent and bills and family drama, especially when you should only be worrying
about grades and boys, your view of life can become a bit distorted. I know
mine did…
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