I love your stories, young lady. I'm a fellow young lady. We have both had very interesting lives. I now believe that God was training me up and teaching me including not to be judgmental. You know, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I have done so many things that I could write a book on those alone. So, I definitely could not judge anyone else.

I was involved with drugs since my teenage years, before that if you include the codeine cough syrup that I loved when I was sick starting as a small child. I sold for a while. One of my brothers was a big pusher. He grew the best pot and dabbled in other assorted items of various descriptions. Part of this was leniency by my parents. My father told us that he smoked pot when he was in his teens in the 30s or 40s. My family is very eclectic. My mother didn't mind us lighting up a joint in the car while she was driving. When my brother came home strung out so bad that he didn't even know his own name, luckily somebody dropped him off, my parents just took him to the bedroom. He might or might not have slept in the bed. Then again, he might or might not have died too.

After that, I dated a major pusher for a while until I began to see that my involvement with him might land me in jail or prison. I started seeing signs that the police were watching him. I did still think, at that time, that it was exciting to be around the big pushers as they did their deals. I don't know why doing wrong was so much fun.

Not only have I changed my belief that drugs are exciting but I see the number of deaths that we have had in my area and I know that they are everywhere. Very sad. Pot can be a gateway drug. If people do pot where other drugs are also around, they might be persuaded to use those too. It takes them in the wrong direction. Yes, weed can be a gateway drug. A little Mary J never hurt anyone but other things do. I have even had my herb laced. I found out when things got real strange.

One of my brothers who proclaims himself a Christian still smokes pot. Of course, it did just become legal but he was smoking it long before it was legal. He claims that God said to him "Does it not humble you?" I question who was speaking to him but I'm still not averse to a little pot. I don't smoke it because it takes me away from things that I consider more important. With pot, I tend to contemplate things like watching the hands of the clock or wondering what importance some little gray rock might have in the bigger picture. I would rather keep myself together and explore many, many things almost at the same time.

Anyway, my excitement these days is communing with God and reading your stories. You are my favorite writer on Medium. If you didn't live so far away, I would want to be your best friend. You keep it real.