OK DERK I THOUGHT YOU NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO SAVE THIS IN YOUR INTRO SO YOU CAN LOOK BACK ON IT IN THE FUTURE. YOU ARE A BAD ASS WHO HAS ACHIEVED WHAT FEW CAN CAN BRAG ABOUT. TRUE FREEDOM! WELL DONE. WELCOME TO THE HALL OF FAME! - JAKE FRAWLEY - 135
DERK40'S H.O.F. INTRO 09.30.13
Hello from Worktowin (KTC HOF Class of April 2013!) Here it is, the last day of September, and Eddie and Jake pulled the train into Kansas City after leaving San Fran yesterday. They asked if I would be a guest conductor and help to welcome one fired up quitter on board (thanks for the invite!) but I think they also wanted me to stop by work (alcohol biz) and bring some of the goods on board. Well, Derk, today you’re in luck, I’ve got a truckload of Sam Adams Octoberfest I snagged out of the warehouse with your name on it! You all might want to hang on as I’m used to driving a Hyundai – this trains' got a little more giddy-up than I’m used to! Hop on board, Derk, this we're getting ready to be on 2 wheels while we finish up September with one hell of a pickup!
Derk started this journey like many of us. After first being introduced to Kodiak in a bar at 18 (inappropriate behavior???) he moved on to dippin’ Copenhagen for the next 25 years. The bar story is one of legend – he and a friend in HS snuck in for some suds, and that night someone offered up the dip. The Kodiak burned his lip like a mofo, but he saw a girl across the way that he had a big crush on. Went over to hit on her with that big fat introductory dip in…. well, she told him that he looked like a total loser! Although defeated, Derk liked that first buzz a lot and moved on to be a professional Ninja for the next two and a half decades.
This bad ass military dude lives in SE VA, but is originally from Cleveland. He has a “smoking hot wife” and 2 great kids. Derk is a positive influence on many on these boards, and proclaims to be “a lucky SOB.” In the event of an accident, he thinks his wife would probably want to know. Probably. Remember, Worktowin with a bunch of Sam Adams and no train experience is driving this rig right now – so keep her number close! The Derk family loves going to the beach (we have no beaches in Kansas) and loves cheering on Ohio State! O-H!!! I-O!!!! In his spare time, he loves to exercise, but mostly spend time with his family. I’ll provide the beer for today’s ride, but Derk has loaded up his SR5 4-Runner with some killer wings to share.
Inappropriate behavior is in this dude’s nature. But in Ninja style, his answer to inappropriate behavior he enjoys… “depends on the definition of “inappropriate.” Enough said. Anyone who quotes Animal House "My advice to you is to start drinking heavily" is familiar with inappropriate behavior, right? Derk did once walk 20+ blocks through the Bronx to see a Cleveland Indians game at the old Yankee Stadium – after getting off at the wrong train stop! He was all decked out in an Indians jersey and feels lucky to still be alive. He offers some sage wisdom to all of us… if you get off at the wrong stop – get back on the train and go to the correct one. Well, Derk, today you are on the right train for damn sure!
Tonight, in celebration of a huge milestone in his life, he is gonna get his “mullygrub on” (quote courtesy of Srans) and enjoy a serious piece of steak and some ice cream. And more than one Sam Adams I suspect. And probably some inappropriate behavior – though we don’t need the details on that. Derk will be sticking around long term, to 200 and beyond, as this milestone is ODAAT and the accountability here works! I couldn’t have said it better myself!
DerkÂ’s Words of Wisdom are below, and they are appropriate to all of us, whether we are quit 1 day, 100 days, or 10,000 days:
“Do not get ahead of yourself... quit ODAAT! Don't worry about tomorrow, next week, next year, the HOF, 1 year. Forget about all that!!! All you control is today. You can control today stay quit today. Own it, or be owned! You have 2 options: you can choose to take your life back, or you can choose to be a slave to a poison can. Choose to quit! Be positive at all times! Negative thinking will be your downfall make you question yourself. KNOW you can do this... do not sit around sulking complaining about how hard this quit is... It is hard. So what! You ever wonder why the guy with the positive attitude gets ahead in life and the people with crappy attitudes get nowhere. Positive, can-do people get things done while negative nay-sayers don't. Quitters QLF! Cavers f-in cave fail. Drink the KTC kool-aid, honor your word, get involved, and stay quit ODAAT. I promise that you can get your life back!”
When asked about support inspiration, Derk mentioned reading a letter from Tom Jenny Kern's daughter. It was after Tom had passed away his daughter wrote a letter to him talking about how she missed him about his addiction that killed him. This was the reality that Derk faced if he chose not to quit – and it totally changed his perspective. He provided a lengthy list of people that helped him get to 100 days:
“The list of people that have helped me this 100 is long and distinguished. First, the 2 guys that saved my foggy ass early without a doubt... srans and trauma. Without these 2 so heavily engaged early... I would have been lost. You guys showed me that this could be done! The other guy that helped me think about things in a different way helped me get my mind right was Skoal Monster. It was not a day to day contact with him, but he really helped shine a light towards the path of quit. Lastly, worktowin was also huge... I just relate to you brother! It is impossible to name everyone but some more prominent supporters- AppleJack (I love u man!), jrod, minny Californiaslim (we have battled thru this together brothers!), KC (1 positive SOB... thanks bro!), ERussel (Man, you are a badass quitter!), Duathman BillyBill (my kik bros... man u guys are cool badass quitters... I have learned from u big time), Pinched (my Jarhead brother... you inspire me daily), Evil_Won (you were the first person to respond to me you scared the piss out of me for some reason.), sportsfan (bro, you can get some quitters fired up supporting the wagins), Mr. Mrs. Daniels (anyone that that is in KTC chat in the hospital having a baby is badass in my book), 224 (ur just so kool!), Cmark (ur the first guy to reach out to me in KTC chat and send me a phone number... meant a lot to me really was a quit changer), Sage (your texts are always timely your chat is always raw... you are cool!), iizphilister (my chat brother that I thought I offended my first day in chat.... it took me that day to realize that is just how it has to be. If ur not offending, then ur not chatting. Your a badass bro!), jlud007 (Glad ur back quit bro!), B-lo (you are a badass!), FIGHTIN_IGNORANCE (My Ohio bro! I have quit with you every day for some time now... Having the I next to U has made me write FU on more than one occasion), kandalk and gorilla (kik bros!!! Lol... Hehe... I mean HaHa). This list does not constitute everyone that has impacted my quit. Reading, learning daily has kept me grounded quit. It is the lot of ya that has kept me here! Man, I love being quit!”
And so, it is with great honor that I get to welcome you to the train today. You have inspired many of us on this site. Not just newbies; not just the September group; many of us on KTC have grown through your experience and struggles. Today, as you board the train and celebrate, believe me (and the other people that are a few or many days ahead) when I promise that every day gets brighter. 100 is just the beginning, and I look forward to you hitting many more milestones ahead. Freedom is such a great gift, and today this ride is in DerkÂ’s honor! Proud to be quit with you again today, brother! ODAAT!
