Tom E. Gunn’s ‘Just Say No’ Picture

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A friend of mine posted a picture of me from a long time ago and it's only worth one word...that word is "NO."

You see, back in the day, your new afternoon buddy, Tom E. Gunn, was a bit of a party animal. There wasn't much I wouldn't do for a good time. I was playing music in a band every weekend and running a bar during the week. I was burning the late-night rock-n-roll candle at both ends...and the middle...with a flame thrower. I thought I was the coolest cat in the cave, and to a lot of people, I may have been.

As I look back on those days, I wonder why I didn't die.

A friend of mine posted this picture of me on Facebook to celebrate our "friendiversary," and all I could think is...

"Damn...Cocaine is a helluva drug."

Thankfully, I found a way out of that life, but not before this picture of me...wearing size 4 women's clothing...was taken. I haven't touched the hard stuff in well over a decade. Why am I sharing it with you now? Maybe you know someone who might be teetering on the edge of self destruction. If you do...please print out my picture, tape it to their bathroom mirror, and write the words "You don't want to end up like this guy" on it.

If my past mistakes can save just one person, then I feel as though my climb out of hell was worth it.