Sunny and 72.

The sun is out, the sky is blue and things have been a little bit better with Max. He seems like he is adjusting to the idea of being in rehab for 6 months, although he's trying to bargain it down to 3 months. Either way, it's better than telling me over and over again that he is "walking on day 30" which is just a few days away.

They let me bring the puppy to therapy and that seems to help him. I never thought of myself as an animal person but this little puppy from El Salvador has changed all that....I instantly relax when I see his happy, smiling face and wagging tale. Unconditional love. So hard (impossible really) to get with humans.

Max has been writing again, which I love. He's such a great writer when he writes. He wrote a paper in rehab and the music teacher wants him to turn into a rap or song so they can record it at the rehab recording studio. This particular rehab has a ton of support from the music industry, hence the recording studio.

Here are some of my 16-year old son's words:

"My life has been one crazy ride filled with many ups and downs so far...I've gone through many treatment centers and hospitals to address and correct my seemingly never-ending addiction to not only my dark and extremely tempting mistress heroin, but also to the sly and deceiving false happiness that forms itself in a blinding white substance called cocaine. I have to say, I am extremely exhausted and out of gas. When I look at my arms I see a story...a story of a young man that has been completely taken advantage of by a deep dark road called addiction. I hope that once I completely defeat my addiction, I can somehow help others that battle their own addictions, because I've been through it and I know how horribly rough it can be. That day will soon come, and until then it will be one day at a time until I completely reach my goal."

I hope he reaches his goal because I know, in my heart, that he can be an inspiration to others, like only someone who has been on such a dark, scary journey, and survived it, can.