Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2016)
Street Roots • Jan. 1-7, 2016 Vendors Page 6 Seasons by Shawn Andrew Nelson Early morning rain. A mist covers the majestic mountains; Off in the distance; shimmering and beautiful Death comes with the Age of Winter; only to show, How does Beauty grow? In the spring of her step. Blooming with exuberance as the great sun brings a whisper, “Wake up and and spread your petals little one, summer is soon to come.” In her twilight years slowly, dissipates her fears; with the coming of a serene fall; and finally when she goes to close her eyes, a teardrop cold on her cheek, she, oh so solemnly smiles and knows that after winter’s wink, she will shake off the Chains of Death and prepare herself deep in the ground so her legacy will too, Wake U p .... Answers to puzzles on page 15 VENDOR PROFIL: Krystal Jordan BY LEONORA KO C O N TR IB U T IN G W R ITER rystal Jordan has strong women in her life and is becoming a strong and wise woman herself. It has been a long journey. “I was born and raised in Portland,” Krystal said. “I didn’t exactly have a good childhood. There was a lot of abuse, so I pretty much left home when I was 16.” She and a boyfriend traveled east, and three years later, Krystal returned to Portland. “I told everybody I was homeless,” she said. “Even though I was able to go home, I chose not to. JOIN and TPI (Transition Projects) helped with my housing, addiction and recovery.” Krystal found an apartment, work and a husband. The birth of her first child changed her perspective about her own mother. “We didn’t really start getting along until after I had my daughter,” Krystal said. “A lot of it was me being naive - thinking I know everything and she’s wrong and she doesn’t know anything. I changed. I became a mom, and I actually needed a lot of help.” Her mother was there with Krystal’s first newborn and is in Krystal’s life now. “I was married for six years, and the last 2 1/2 years got pretty bad, got pretty abusive,'” Krystal said. “I started drinking again and started using. Not a pretty picture.” Krystal realized she wouldn’t get better in an abusive environment. She placed her daughter and son with her mother, . found a foster home for her dog, and got a sleeping mat for herself at SAFES (Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter). “My kids actually have some stability, and they’re in a safe environment,” Krystal said. “I just want to keep that going.” Now, she is busy in the Providence K O ut of Luck? Substance Abuse Treatment Program, gets counseling and attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings, Krystal also makes commitments with her recovery sponsor, sometimes speaking with her three times a day. “I just recently had to cut my ties with a friend. She started using pretty heavily even though I tried to help her,” Krystal said. “I mean, I knew that she had used. Who am I to judge? I have the same issue. But I had gotten the impression that she was trying to get sober. Like my sponsor said, ‘You try to save them (and) you go back out (relapse).’ Which is true. Play with fire, get binned. “It gave me a better understanding of what I put other people through when I was in that state,” Krystal said. “When we’re in our addiction, we don’t care about anybody else, except for us - and our drugs. So with me being sober and having to deal with that, it gave me more understanding.” Krystal said she’s “bound and determined” to complete her outpatient program. Street Roots is another way for Krystal to stay clean. “I’m pretty o C EN TR A L C IT Y COFFEE SVdnhiueil.Sfrgtuut. Free Counseling for Gambling Problems Sourcing & roasting craft coffee to benefit programs at Central City Concern. IN STORES Call 503-239-5952 1 6 9 P L S Z 8 8 8 17 L 8 9 Z 6 S k 9 8 Z L 8 6 L 9 Z S 8 6 8 9 t Z 8 Z 6 S Í p. 8 9 Z 17 9 L 8 Z L S 6 8 Z L S Z P 8 9 8 6 9 Z 8 Z 6 8 P L S 6 8 P 9 S L 8 Z L Start the new year right with an extra dose of poetry! "Life is Beautiful" a special Street Roots poetry zine, is on sale now! New Seasons Market, Whole Foods, Food Front Cooperative Grocery, Green Zebra, Chuck's Produce and Will Leather Goods. _• AT YOUR OFFICE interested in serving Central City Coffee at your office? Get in touch with us and we can help you make that happen. 503.226.7387 ON OUR WEBSITE Buy Central City Coffee online and have it shipped directly to you or a friend. Follow our Facebook page for updates and specials. centralcitycoffee.org facebook.com/CentralCityCoffee coffee@ccconcem.org busy, but on weekends I have almost no structure,” she said. “I’ve noticed the pattern when I have nothing to do; that’s usually the time I’m thinking about going out and using and whatnot. And so with selling Street Roots on the weekends, it’s really helped me to keep my mind occupied.” Krystal uses the money she earns to buy yarn and other things that keep her busy. “I do crocheting, and I do a lot of coloring. I actually went and bought a coloring book of Celtic designs.” Life is getting better with Krystal’s recovery. She spent a recent holiday with her mom, her two kids and her sister. “This was probably one of the better Thanksgivings that I’ve had in a while,” Krystal said. “My kids were actually pretty decent, well-behaved. My son kind of threw a fit because we watched ‘Frozen.’ Again. And he wanted to watch Plaines.’ He’s 6. And then the next thing you know, , plus me, ing along ‘Frozen.’”
