MaryJane

Every night, after working behind the chair all day, I must admit, it is very difficult to remember all of the details within all of the conversations of the day. There are so many...from the woman who lost her father to the heartbroken mother who fears an empty nest. The estranged wife and mother of three. Somebody filed bankruptcy. Somebodys daughter had a baby.  They got a new dog. She put down her cat. His wife spends too much money. His grandmother has Alzheimer's. Laughter. Tears.


Why anyone would ask me for advice is beyond me. I give some of the worst advice out there. I'm starting to think that I only get asked advice to confirm to themselves that they are not as crazy as they once thought they were. For instance: After going through our consultation, a woman, lets call her MaryJane, posed this question to me...
     "I found a bag of marijuana in my sons coat pocket! Can you believe that?"

me: "yes"

MaryJane: "What am I suppose to do?"

At this point I ponder my options. Option #1: Give her some bologna answer about how she should get in touch with a counselor, get his blood tested, call the police, read all his text messages...whatever. Option #2: Pose the question back, "OMG, what ARE you going to do?" Or Option #3.

"Smoke it."

They say you attract your own kind in this business, I respectfully disagree. I would like to believe that most people hold much higher moral standards than I do.  Of course, my clients know I am kidding. I believe they also know that I give terrible advice. MaryJane laughs, tells me she loves her hair, prebooks her next appointment, pays, and tips me well. She leaves with the assurance that no matter what route she chooses, it's a hell of a lot better than what some people would do. She has left the building a better mom. She will be back.