May 15, 2017
Dear Hossein,
Thank you for the recent news and photographs of the co-guide examinations. I found the new categories of co-guides quite interesting and am delighted to hear you are focusing increased education and support for the newcomers joining Congress 60. Retention in addiction treatment and recovery support groups is a universal challenge, and I will look forward to hearing future progress reports on how the newcomer co-guides effect retention in Congress 60.
Yes, Alisha and I both enjoyed the Edmund and Helga play that was translated by Ehsan. Alisha was very pleased with the dedication. It would be a great pleasure to see the play performed sometime in the future. Rita and I have become quite interested in theatre and plan to see about 10 plays—a mix of comedy, drama and musicals--this coming year performed by the local repertory theatre.
You mentioned our departed friend Dr. Kurtz. I continue to miss my regular communications with him and our collaboration of various projects. I know that he enjoyed his email exchanges with you very much. His wife Linda is doing well and we have continued our occasional communications.
I have been very concerned about the new directions in U.S. drug policy of the Trump administration and have been writing and doing what else I can to both condemn these new (old) initiative and offer alternatives. Some of the public health leaders with the most knowledge about addiction and recovery are being replaced with people who lack such knowledge. I fear a difficult era for addiction treatment and research in the U.S.
Yesterday, we celebrated Mother’s Day in here in my country. My mother is now 94 and remains sharp of mind though frail in body. She served as a nurse in World War II and had a long career as an intensive care nurse before specializing in geriatric nursing. She has been retired for many years now but continued to be involved in all kinds of community service activities. She raised four of her own children, and adopted daughter, and more than 20 foster children. She remains a real inspiration to me.
The weather here in Southwest Florida is heating up and all the “snowbirds” (those from the North who live in Florida during the winter months) have nearly all heading back to their homes. Rita and I do not mind the heat and enjoy the quieter pace of summers here.
Please extend my warm regards to your family and to all members of Congress 60—particularly to those who chose to take the co-guide examination.
Friends and Brothers Forever,
Bill