I woke up at my camp in Middleton around 6:30 a.m. I took time to get myself ready by getting dressed and brushing my teeth. The interview was set for 9:00 a.m. I left around 8:00 a.m. and arrived a half hour early.
When I went into the agency I said hi to everybody I knew. I have a good relationship with this organization. I sat out front in the lobby for a while. Then right before 9:00 a.m. I went in the office and did an interview with two high level executives. The interview lasted about 2 hours and I think it went really well. I believe I presented myself as highly qualified and we talked about the different responsibilities of the role.
I left the job interview around 11:30. I had received a text message from an old friend of mine earlier that morning. My friend told me that he was in the hospital detoxing off Fentanyl. He asked me to come visit. I drove to Lahey hospital in Burlington and I went to his hospital room. It had been a long time since we had actually sat down and had a conversation. My friend’s family was there, his brother and his mother and his brother’s wife. We were able to sit and talk. And when his family left the room, my friend and I had a more in-depth conversation. I explained some of the things that he could do to help himself. After a while I said my goodbyes and I left. I let my friend know that I would be staying in contact.
After the visit with my old friend I decided to drive back to my camp. Around 4:30 p.m. while I was laying in my tent my friend Patrick called me. His registration had expired and he wasn’t able to drive and he needed a ride to pick up his son. I was comfortable, but friends come first.
I mobilized and got in my truck and drove to his work and picked him up. We went and we picked up his son in Beverly and then we went to Market Basket to pick up some food. We bought dinner and then we went back to his home.
I hung out at my friends house for a little while. We ate dinner and were able to talk about various things. It felt good to spend time with people.
At around 8:30 p.m. I drove back to my camp and I settled in for the night.
HINDSIGHT 3/1/2026
The friend I visited in the Hospital for fentanyl use, ended up doing well in recovery and now works in addiction treatment.