Smoke signals., March 01, 2009, Page 6, Image 6

6 MARCH 1,2009
Smoke Signals
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LARSEN continued
from front page
helped her to see through the veil
of her alcoholism. With King's help,
Larsen turned her life around for
the first time.
The year was 1985.
"This change began with me find
ing someone who cared, and also
the counseling," Larsen says.
Her eyes mist up with tears as
she recounts the time lost to ad
diction, time that will never be
granted her again.
There is still time, she says, to
make new memories, time to spend
with loved ones and to remember
loved ones who have passed.
In 2003, King, who became Lars
en's life partner, passed on.
"I was brought to my senses
through the love and caring of my
lifelong companion Carmen," Lars
en says. "If it were not for Carmen's
help back in 1985, 1 would not have
been able to stay clean and sober
for so many years. I was clean and
sober for 18 years."
Yet with the death of King, Lars
en relapsed and was back on the
road to self-destruction.
"My life at the time seemed to be
spiraling in a downward direction
so much so that even gambling had
become a serious problem, and yet
I just did not seem to care," Larsen
recalls.
"Alcohol no doubt is a terrible
addiction and it ruins lives left and
right, but for me it was gambling as
well. I worked to gamble. Not only
did I work everyday and long hours,
but then I gambled and drank the
rest of the day away, when I could
have been spending that time with
my family.
"I was the first one to tell others
'Never drink and drive,' and yet as
I continued to drink I also contin
ued to drive. Three DUII's between
2004-06, a car wreck as well as time
spent in jail may have helped me
decide on New Year's Day in 2007
that I needed to quit drinking."
This time Larsen reached out
to counselors from the Tribal Be
havioral Health program in Grand
Ronde.
"I started down a long road two
years ago and can say I have con
tinued on that road to present day,"
Larsen says. "In fact, I have suc
cessfully completed all my classes
as of July 2008."
Not to say that it was not a long
road and that it was not a lot of hard
work because it was, Larsen says.
"I have worked continually with
the Behavioral Health program
and its team of drug and alcohol
counselors here in Grand Ronde
for over two years, and I still go
back in every once in a while for
their support," she says. "They are
a wonderful team of counselors and
they do not back down.
"They are good at their jobs and
they know when someone is just
trying to pull something over on
them. They can be just as hard
headed as the rest of us.
"It took two years of treatment for
me to learn that it isn't the act of
picking up the drink or the action
of pushing the button that creates
the relapse. Picking up the drink or
pushing the button is the final act,
not the beginning."
Today, she says, "There are
things that I can do that make a
difference."
Her two grandchildren, for in
stance. "I am here to make a dif
ference in their lives," she says. "If
I would have continued down the
road I had been on, I may not have
been here for them.
'These addictions are very selfish
and create self-centered monsters,
and I was living a very self-absorbed
life at the time."
Larsen says one of the most im
portant messages she could send
today is, "Be true to yourself."
For me, she says that also has a
spiritual meaning. "I am thankful
that the Creator has given me the
strength to be true to myself and to
continue on with my journey."
"When I look in the mirror," she
says, "I want to see somebody I like,
or Elvis."
Larsen says she feels that shar
ing her story is important.
"It's not only about triumphs,"
she says, "but it lets others know
that help is there if you take that
step and choose to be accountable
for your own actions." D
2009 Tribal
Marketplace dates
B March 7 & 8
D April 4 & 5
a May 2 & 3
B June 6 & 7
D July 4 & 5
(Possibly 73 for the three-day holiday weekend)
D Aug. 1 & 2
D Sept. 5 & 6
D Oct. 3 & 4
D Nov. 7 & 8
D Dec. 5 & 6
Dates subject to change due to conflicting Tribal or SMC events.
Located across from Cedar Plank Buffet.
OPEN FOR COMMENT
OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT ON GRTHA'S
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
The Grand Ronde Tribal Housing Authority (GRTHA) receives
grants under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-De-termination
Act of 1996, as amended.
HUD provides these grants to Indian Tribes and Indian Housing
Authorities for the development and operation of low-income housing
in Indian areas. To be eligible for the grants, the Housing Author
ity must submit an annual Indian Housing Plan that meets the
minimum requirements of the Act, and submit regular performance
reports to HUD.
Grand Ronde Tribal members are hereby notified that the Grand
Ronde Tribal Housing Authority has prepared the Draft 2008 Annual
Performance Report (APR), and public comments are encouraged.
All comments will be incorporated into the final report.
Copies of the 2008 APR are available by calling GRTHA at 503
879-2401, or 800-422-0232, ext. 2401.
Copies may also be e-mailed or picked up at the GRTHA office.
Comments must be submitted to GRTHA by 5 p.m. March
25, 2009.
Canoe Family slates meeting
The Grand RondeChinook Canoe Family will hold its monthly meeting
from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Tribal gymnasium.
Lunch will be provided and attendees are encouraged to bring a des
sert. The Canoe Family Board Meeting will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. in the
Youth Education building.
For more information, contact Tribal Youth Program Coordinator Lisa
Leno at 503-879-1471 or via e-mail at lisa.lenograndronde.org. B
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Featuring . ,
Russ Hosley, Russ Neal, Rex Haller,
ana more
Tacp Soup made by Margo Meaier. Suggested
donatimprice $5 for cxncert & $2 for taco soup.
AH donations gp towards Lighthouse building and
ministries) Please bring canned food so we can help out
j our local food bank
Any questions call Gndy Larson 503-876-2999
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