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by going to two drug rehabs, attending AA, NA, GA 12 step meetings and finding a higher power and some serenity.

Some pictures from the Book:
            
Gloucester Catholic Class of               Taken in 2007, in Phoenix
1980, my nickname was "Poey."         Arizona.




           My wife Anne, my son Michael, and me.



The famous Kamikaze Chair from my days at Stockton State College  1980-1984.  First some ice, some vodka, a dash of triple sec, some lime juice and a bong hit to top it off. 

Old Joe wants to reclaim new Joe as the struggle to break the vicious cycle continues.  There is a good wolf and a bad wolf fighting for control in all of us.  Do you know which one wins?  The one you feed!
I used to play "Joker Poker" quarter slots all night long in Atlantic City casinos, earning my seat in Gamblers Anonymous. 

I sought my Soul but could not see
I sought my God, but he eluded me
I sought my brothers and sisters
and found all three
GA Yellow Book


The Serenity Prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.


Date of Last Drink:  May 17, 1991
Date of last bet: 11/11/05


"Keep Coming Back" it works if you work it!

I was born the son of a bar owner in New Jersey in 1961. I spent the first 12 years of my education in Catholic schools before receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Richard Stockton College of NJ in 1984.  During my college years, I worked at a local “WaWa” convenience Store; hence the nickname, Joe WaWa.  I bounced around from casino to casino for quite a while before earning another Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from Stockton.  After taking a few more Master's courses in Special Education, I am proud to say I became a Teacher of Special Education.  I am currently teaching in Phoenix, Arizona where I live with my family. 

Everyone has a little Joe WaWa inside them, the guy that always wants one more and does not know when he has had enough.  I came of age in the mid -1970’s, where I discovered sex, drugs, rock and roll, and the pain of addiction, thus “The Vicious Cycle” begins.  I’ll take you through the early years where it all began, then into the “Casino and Beach” years’ where it all began to fall apart.  Finally the journey continues into the recovery years where my search for normalcy, spirituality, love, family, meaning, and the good honest things in life.  I have added some poetry along the way highlighting the good times and the bad.  These poems were written in my journal during the highs and lows of my addictions.  Therefore, they are in their original form using poetic license.  Joe WaWa, not an American hero, just a guy who saved himself from himself.

Here it is, The Vicious Cycle, The Joewawa story.  This is what it was like, for me, eighteen years ago, and what it is today.  The materials, old poems, and many writings were written many years ago and were preserved in a journal that I kept throughout my experiences.  Everything is true; some names have been changed to protect the innocent.    I often pondered why I was writing this book, for what was my purpose? Should I break my anonymity? Was it my ego, and message to share, for inner healing, or to seek attention?  The answer is a combination of these but I just let the cat out of the bag.  I hope that no one has hard feelings about things I’ve written, as it is not my intention.  It’s just my story, my struggles, my responses to the stimuli that we late baby boomers faced.  I hope my readers don’t judge me or give me too much credit; it just is what it is. 

    This is an unedited edition.  My book was written and made by me completely with the resources that I had available to me on my home computer and scanner. I did not worry much about fancy editing and political correctness for my actions.  I uncover this adventurous story to America and the world to hopefully enjoy and relate to certain parts of my story.  My students always say I can spin a yarn. Take what you like: and leave the rest. Hopefully you could find a clue or two on how to improve the existence you are now experiencing.  This could help you develop connection with a higher power and some of the answers to your own search.  I am still plugging along with every encounter, transaction, conversation, face-book blog, teaching moment, and other human interactions that I hope to deal with in strongest way possible.  For many of us misfits, we had to go in for re-programming, we had to seek help.  The human decency I have experienced in AA, NA, and GA groups rivals none.  People helping people, I think that’s what my higher power wanted.  I moved from the retches and stink of hell on earth into a normal and decent way of life. To me religion is for people who are afraid to go to hell while spirituality is for people who have been there. I am not the poster child or any great example than others who have found themselves in similar stages of life; I am just another recovering addict and late baby boomer getting on with life.  I have also borrowed some of the phrases from the program most of it handed down by past members and the old-timers.

A Fish Story

I wish, I wish, I wish I had a fish!

“Been out here all day, haven’t caught a thing, DAMN IT!”

Get away from your fears and troubles

Go out with your rod and reel and take many extras!

Beer’s in the cooler for, ice cold ones

We start pounding them at day break

We head to Margate New Jersey to go asea on the “Duke of Fluke”

Stevie’s puking over the side, Sean passed out behind the deck

Me and Jack Whack, were trying to win the fishing pool

When my line jams up, like a big bird nest

Another beer, I have a grand idea, as I grab a giant spool of string

I throw on a big hook, a four ounce dippsy, and a big hunk of squid

Everyone laughed at Joe WaWa they thought him the fool

Next thing you know I’m pulling up a doormat flounder

Musta been around twenty pounds, I don’t know

Jack mis-netted it, it was gone!