Mecca, in a sense

From Ben K. to Betty Argiros

Betty,

I hope this message finds you well and Tony with a smile. It has been near 18 years since we have seen each other, but you should know that a trip began with the help from you and your husband has stayed the path.
Tomorrow, Sunday the17th of October, I will drive up to The Family and see what it has become. The strangest thing- probably none of these kids was even born at the time I lived there.
Part of my path right now in sobriety is a need to revisit where it began- a psychological Mecca, in a sense. I never forgot my time there or what I went thru. Nor have I ever forgotten the generosity your family extended me while my Father passed away during the time I lived in the house. I have great memories of the pond; frozen and playing dodge ball, going haying, the animals… and even Grandma, although I’m sure I was not amongst her favorites. (I was the Jewish boy from Long Island who did aerobics in the kitchen and stole food- no hundred dollar sanction please)
I write this to you as a thank you for almost 18 years away from the bottle or pill. You both should know that what you created has saved a life- mine along with countless others.
Now, I understand if you might not remember me… Heaven knows the hundreds of kids that you cared for. I certainly look different than I did 20 years ago…
You were Mother and Dad to those of us who knew you. Tony was Father and friend. If it were not for my time in Hancock, I would have ended up like almost all the people I grew up with. Some of them didn’t even make it out of High School- some with little brothers that died sooner than they did.

-Ben K.