November 2024 3rd Street Beat

3rd Street Beat

Produced by Clients of The Recovery Center 8 east 3rd Street 10003 #54 November 2024 https://static.vecteezy.com/system/resources/previews/001/200/621/original/autumn-leaves-pattern-vector.jpg

The 3rd Street Beat Mission Statement The Third Street Beat is a newsletter written by and created for people with substance use disorder.

Our mission is to validate that experience so people know that they are not alone, and to emphasize the many unique roads that we take to recovery. This is an opportunity to share our experiences to creatively support each other. We are non-political, non-denominational, multi-racial, and gender neutral. Our mission is one of recovery and harm reduction, and all experiences are welcome. All the viewpoints herein are personal in nature and related specifically to our contributors’ recovery.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Talent Show pg. 3-4 GG and Tyson by D.A. pg. 5-6 Hiking by T.P. pg. 7 Poetry by D.A. pg. 8-9 Oh Captain by E.S. pg. 10 Holidays by S.M. pg. 11 Dreams Deferred by D.A. pg. 12 Election by D.A. pg. 13 Alone by T.P. pg. 14 Thanksgiving Meal by A.T. pg. 15

The 3rd Street Beat Editorial Team The 3rd Street Beat is produced by The Recovery Center community with assistance from the occupational therapy team.

3rd Street Beat back issues can be downloaded at: https://www.projectrenewal.org/ne ws-and-publications/publications/p age/1/?byCategory=the-recovery-ce nter Follow Us on Instagram! @recoverycenternyc

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Talent Show *Magic*

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The story about my two pitbulls GG the mother and Tyson the son that live with me in my little room in Harlem. This is Part III of my story. Juan and this guy nam Gutter his real name is Jamie that live next door at my building that I live in the hood. Juan and Gutter went into my room and threw all my clothes out. The garbage men sanitation put all my clothes in the track truck and crush my clothes and throw all my clothes away. I was little tight (mad) and hurt. Now I got to get new clothes and get a whole new wardrobe. Juan and Gutter said the reason they threw all my clothes out because they said my room smells like urine. They clean my room out the winter is coming so I got to get all new winter gear so that is the end of my story God bless the city country, and the world. Take care Thank you Darryl A.

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My story is about my two pitbull dogs GG and Tyson

By Darryl A. I moved from Harlem to the Bronx because of my two pitbull dogs GG and Tyson. I left the dogs in Harlem because I couldn’t take them with me. I didn’t want GG to die on my watch. She was real sick she had a rash all over her body and she was blind in one eye and she has a bump under her eye. You can look in her eyes she was sick and weak I feel sorry for her I try to take her to the vet the dog doctor but they was too expensive cose too much money. They want $150 to walk into door for a check up I did not have the money to pay for her check up. I was on a fix income that’s public assistance welfare that $91.50 every two weeks. That not enough money so I was in a rock and a hard place. I heard police took the dogs and took the dogs to the dog pound or the animal shelter so I hope the dogs are all right I hope GG will live because if she too sick the vet the dog doctor will have to put GG to sleep and get her out of her misery. I don’t want GG to die I will be real sad if she die so I hope for the best for her. Tyson the son, he strong and healthy so he will be alright but if GG pass away God forbid Tyson will be read sad I know he will miss his mother GG. I hope for the best for GG and Tyson I miss them and love them. God bless my dogs GG and Tyson.

Thank you Darryl A.

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I imagine I’m on a road trip, I’m going all the way down on Appalachian Trail the path you can reach south edge of the United States. I’m walking because only doing walk I can fully enjoy myself and have interesting trip. If I’m travelling by car, I get bored and tired. I always liked hiking on mountains. When I was young, I spend many summer days on hiking trails. Later I even had enough time for that, but sometimes I get out on short travels. On this imagine trip, my time is unlimited, I have worry about nothing. I’m going without company, by myself because I don’t want to depend on somebody, this is just my trip. The only person with me is God. I want make bigger spiritual life. During my individual travel I can really focus on that.

Nobody and nothing disturbed me, I can read Bible in silent, have time for praying. Also I can give questions to myself and find out answers. I strongly believe this trip can change my life and become better person.

Tomasz P.

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My story is about my counselor Brian Knowles I been at Project Renewal and TRC since 2021 and Brian Knowles is my counselor and he the only one. He is friendly and funny and share and care. I am thankful he is in my life for being there. Brian and his wife are nice and sweet. They make my life complete Thank you Darryl A.

My life at Project Renewal and TRC I been at Project Renewal and TRC for 3 years since 2021 And I love it here, it been really fun The staff and clients are very friendly and fair I am glad they are in my life and being there We go to trips and groups, I learn a lot I be here forever and I won’t stop

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Thank you 8 Darryl A.

My place where I feel most at peace is Heritage Trail in Orange County New York. It’s far, about 50 miles from New York City. In my past I usually visited some family members in that area and then started to walk from Harriman to Chester on that trail. Distance is about 10 miles. I still remember that day in the spring 2005 year when I was going through this path and after eat good dinner in restaurant. I started next week full of good positive energy.

Long walking tired myself but I really enjoyed and e everything what I was interesting me I kept coming back there by many years and always discovered something something new. I always feel peaceful there, stress is out, don’t worry about any problems. Now they installed many benches there so I can take break anytime I want. The place because now more popular than before, you see more people there, but still is quiet, clean, and peaceful. Still I don’t have enough of that, I miss the Heritage Trail and I want for opportunity to get there again.

-Tomasz P.

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My captain, our fearful trip is done. The prize we sought is won, the port is near.

They people’s eyes, grim and daring.

We’re on the deck my Captain.

Waiting for your orders. It’s for you they call -A blackout poem of “Oh Captain, My Captain” by Edward S.

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Holiday cheer Times Square Store gifts Fans Children Joy Families -Steven M.

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What happens to a dream deferred A blackout poem by Darryl A. My dream is to become a writer and make a movie. It is going to take a total of 5 to 10 years from now. But I need time and money. I had a stroke about a year ago. In sept of 2023 so I need to go to the SSI or SSD or Social Security office to get one of those benefits. But Donald Trump is the president he might cut out all those benefits so me and whole lot of people are going to suffer so I’m a little afraid that might happen. So everybody in the world got to pray for present and future Thank you Darryl A.

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A story about the elected President Donald Trump

By Darryl A Donald Trump being president is scary toward me. If he has the power and congress agree with him he going to cut all poverty and poor people income that welfare, food stamps unemployment, SSI SSD, Social Security, Medicare all our income so people will wild out finding ways to eat.

Breaking in store, robbing, looting, stealing, that will give the police and military to lock us up or kill us. That will wipe our race up. That blacks, latino, and poor white people it will be riots, all over the county. I hope that won’t happen God forbid Donald Trump is powerful he beat 2 women in eight years. In 2016 he beat Hillary Clinton and 2024 he beat Kamala Harris I guess this country is not ready for a woman president so that the end of my story. God bless the city, county, and world Darryl A. https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2020/11/02/NOBD/8fe395ea-7ba0-49cd-b580-61c35fb09dde-Voting.jpg?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&f ormat=pjpg&auto=webp

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My time when I feel truly alone was four years ago. I lost my home and became homeless. That happened in one day and it wasn’t my fault. After that I lost job too, because started pandemic time and they close jobsite where I was working. This was new situation in New York City, nobody knows what to do with it or what is going to be tomorrow. Everything changed that time. I had kept enough money to find new place to live and people also not offering apartments for rent that time. They closed many public places, so not options for homeless person to stay somewhere. Was order for people just stay home, nobody think about men who don’t have it. I remember empty streets, empty subways, parks, and social life. I felt really alone, nobody could help me. I had problem find some place to spend time. My only friend was alcohol which I used then without limit. That very affected my body and spirit. I don’t have very idea how make my situation better. Later changed little, I was working in different job, I tried to find some new place to live but I could not successfully stand up on my feet.

-Tomasz P.

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Every Thanksgiving my mother would cook many different foods for the dinner, which was fried chicken, barbeque chicken, turkey with the dressing. Also a ham with the glaze on it. Also mac and cheese, lima beans, collard greens, sweet cornbread, sweet potato pies, and also pumpkin pie. Chocolate cake and Lemon cakes also.

Anthony T.

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