Lessons

At only 5yrs old I was sent to live with my Uncle Pete because my parents thought He could get “the devil” out of me,as he was very religious. Only thing I actually learned was how stern he truly could be and how hard it was to learn for me. Wether it was table manners or something I said, I was sent to the floor for misbehaving and ate with the family dog. After that summer I was sent back home to my parents and deemed a bad seed by my uncle Pete. Then, Mom and Dad split after what was a very traumatic childhood with alcoholism and abuse, watching Dad hit Mom and the cops being called over and over.

That was when Mom met our Stepfather and we found the man we called Dad. He was a very kind n caring man but was also very abusive to Mom as well. She endured so much and was such a strong woman doing whatever it took to clothe us and keep food in our bellies and a roof over our heads and love in our hearts.

I was raised to pretend I had ADHD/ADD so I could get Ritalin prescribed while my Stepfather would get Tolwin and together they were sold on the street for 15-30$ per package. 1T-1R is a package. Our whole family did this in Alberta for years and eventually were caught by the authorities and served sentences. Thankfully my immediate family stopped 2 years before we were caught.

We did it to get by because work ethic wasn’t taught and street ways were how my parents got by, shoplifting and scamming but we were always taught proper manners and morales from our parents too. We were raised to be strong and my brother and I sparred constantly to be tough and know how to fight and defend ourselves and family. We never were rich and just made it month to month but when we made the pill trips we would get rewarded with money or gifts cause we were helping the family. So, it became the way and when we knew there were other members doing it as well it was kind of just the family way. Obviously we were familiar with mafia movies and how certain families do different things but always defend and be loyal the family so we felt it was our duty.

It was like any movie you watch, as we were getting away with it we were invincible and people started buying ATV’s, trucks, skidoos and had no actual employment or income to afford these things people got jealous and started talking around town and the police got suspicious and had said it was a “ 7 year investigation “ to take us down. My immediate family had gotten out years before our aunt and uncle and younger cousin had taken a trip and sold to an undercover agent in the city.

Yards were stormed and doors were kicked in as the entire family was taken down and property was seized. Charges were laid and sentences were served. It’s just something that happened years ago now, but will forever be a part of who we were but not who we have become. Life lessons aren’t the same for everyone in this world and I’m sure one persons story will blow your mind when it was just life to them. (I realized that life is real and didn’t want my little sister to end up in foster care is why we pulled out.) nonetheless life isn’t easy and there’s more honour in earning a nickel than stealing a dime.