The Time Mom Almost Burnt Us To Death

As I’ve mentioned in my previous stories, I grew up with parents who were full-blown addicts. Just to be clear — I wouldn’t change a thing about my parents or my upbringing, partly because I can’t, but mostly because I have some pretty crazy stories from it, I am stronger from it and have a much better understanding of addiction because of it. I would go as far as to say that I am grateful for my circumstances growing up, and that feels like a really good place to be. Forgive, but not forget — so it’s becoming fun and kind of therapeutic to share these stories.

This one is so vivid that it could have happened yesterday.

I was probably around 7 or 8 years old and my brother was 8 or 9. My mom and stepdad were fighting (very typical) so she decided to take us on a camping trip without him. This was the first trip we had ever taken with just her and I remember being really nervous about it (rightfully so, she wants and still it extremely irresponsible and naive — add some booze to that? Oh boy).

We went to this little place just outside of Squamish called Porteau Cove. It was really only like a 45-minute drive from home. I remember the first night we got there kind of late, so we set up the tent quickly and drove to the Taco Bell drive-through in Squamish for dinner before coming back to the campsite. I never really liked Taco Bell, but mom loved it, so that’s where we went.

When we got back, mom set up a fire. It was mid-summer, but this was back when forest fires were…