Last night I went to my second job and it was a relatively slow night. I went to my near by Starbucks when I finished closing and I was asked if I knew a particular individual. I said of course and that I had worked with him a number of times. My friend continues talking and said that he had his shift covered last night and he shot his ex-girlfriend and then himself. I thought it was a joke at first. I was completely shocked. This is a reality beyond belief. I didn’t even know what to do with that. It actually threw me off a little bit. I mean I hear about people being shot or dying all the time in the news, but you never really think about it until someone you know does. It is a scary reality and something new for me to deal with, especially in recovery. I have known people who have overdosed in the past and while I was active in my addiction, but never in my recovery. It is a trip, because it is someone I used to work with on an almost daily basis and someone that I saw at least 3 times a week. I didn’t know him very well, but I knew things about him and I have talked to him a number of times. It made me think about whether or not I could handle something like this happening in my future career and how I would handle it. It really stopped me in my foot steps. About an hour ago I heard that Michael Jackson was taken to the hospital and now it was confirmed that he has died. That is three celebrities in 2 days: Ed MacMamon, FArrah Faccet, and Michael Jackson. Something bizarre is going on with the universe right now and it is kind of creeping me out. This is reality and I am facing more and more on a regular basis. There are so many new things I am experiencing today and every single one has been a difficult challenge for me to work with. One day at a time is the only way I can take anything right now and that fact has been brought to my attention more and more as the days pass. Just remember to always take everything at face value and never underestimate anyone or anything. Love yourself and make sure you always appreciate everything you have in life, because you never know when you may lose it.