December 27, 2002 Glenwood Springs, CO Hi Everyone, I am in Glenwood Springs, CO now. Do you believe in Christmas miracles? If so, I have a story to tell you. Back in Belchertown I had a friend named Tom. (not his real name) Tom is an honest, sincere, good man. Tom is also an alcoholic. About a 1 1/2 years ago he decided to come out to Colorado where he spent some time as a youg man. We didn't hear much from him . He had a PO box in Carbondale. As I was heading west on I-70 thought I might jump off the highway and poke around Carbondale, figuring I'd spend 30 sight seeing minutes and be on my way. I was travelling along the Crystal River when I came around the corner and spotted a van. I immediately recognized it as Tom's. I parked the car and went over to the van. It was empty. I went to the edge of the river and saw a man down by the water. It was Tom! I went down to the river bank to find him drunk, soaking his feet in the hot spring, trying to get warm. His feet were swollen and blistered, he had been living in his van for the past 3 months. I took him down to the hospital where they admitted him with hypothermia amongst his alcohol problems. He spent a few days in the hospital and is now staying with me in a hotel room. His family and I are now working on getting him on an airplane and back to Massachusetts where he will enter a detox center. But the story gets more complicated as he managed to get a couple of DUI's recently. I'll be going to court with him on Monday, hoping the DA will release him on probation so I can get him on a plane and get him out of here. What are the odds? What brought me here, to this place at this time? You may have to call it divine intervention. The day after I arrived a homeless man died in the night trying to keep warm in a hot spring. ( There are many natural, thermal hot spring in this area.) I don't know yet how the story will end. He is looking at jail time unless the DA believes in miracles also. And the story won't realy have a happy ending unless he has decided that it is time to go sober. I've had some other interesting things happen to me since I last wrote, but nothing can top this. I've met some wonderful people here that have been very helpful and caring of the situation. I would like to say hi to the 5th graders in Chatsworth , GA. who I played for while I was there. Say a prayer for Tom. He could use your help. So long for now, Peter