Expedition Logbook: 6/24/25

Route: Detox → Long-Term Residential Treatment (6-12 months)
Mission: Sober Transport

Departure was at 8:00am. The client was ready before I arrived. His bags packed, hoodie zipped, and a journal tucked under his arm. No signs of resistance. No fear disguised as sarcasm. Just resolve.

This wasn’t his first rodeo — but it felt like his first real commitment. He said so himself, halfway down I-85: “I’ve never actually wanted this before.” He smiled when he said it. It landed somewhere between confession and revelation.

The client was in his early 30s — just enough history to know the stakes, but still young enough to make the climb. Three prior treatments. A few detoxes. No shame in it. Just data, as he put it. “I’ve been gathering intel. This time I’m using it.”

He brought snacks. He picked the music. He even asked thoughtful questions about what to expect when we arrived. That’s rare — and a gift. So, we talked logistics, mindset, morning routines, how to build a base that doesn’t collapse under stress.

We stopped once for provisions. He bought an iced coffee and held the door open for a woman wrangling toddlers. "I forgot how good it feels to just be a decent human,” he said, mostly to himself. I just nodded. That’s recovery showing up early.

Arrival at 2:36pm. The welcoming party met us at the door warmly and with no hesitation. My guy took a long breath, grabbed his bag, and said: “Alright. Time to get after it.”

Mission Status: Successful. Client safely transitioned and fully engaged on arrival.

This is the kind of climb you don’t get carried up. You earn it — one honest step at a time.

As always, the ride home was quiet — the good kind. No adrenaline, no red flags replaying in my head. Just open road, a podcast, and the sense that something had shifted. I thought about the weight of the job: being there in the “in-between.” I’m not the healer. Nor, the hero. Just the hand on the shoulder before the climb begins.

— M.C.
Sherpa Recovery Solutions