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About The Author: Tim Elhajj
Tim Elhajj is a writer in long-term recovery living the the Pacific Northwest. He lives near Phantom Lake with his wife, their two middle-school aged kids, and a dog. Prior to moving west, Tim lived in New York City where he earned a BA from Hunter College. Tim’s creative nonfiction essays have appeared in, or are forthcoming from, The New York Times, The Yalobusha Review, Brevity, and Sweet. He and his wife are the founding editors of an online literary magazine called Junk, a literary fix.
Category Archives: blog
Dopefiend Reading Guide: Chapter Two, Hope
The second step in Alcoholics Anonymous offers hope from a higher power. But the big problem with step two is that it involves belief in that higher power. I have never had any problem acknowledging God. I just never found … Continue reading →
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Posted in 12 steps, addiction, blog, chapter two hope, Dopefiend, Dopefiend reading guide, Reading Guide, recovery memoir, things
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Dopefiend Excerpt: A Little Help From my Friends
“If I (pictured, left) got thrown out of the house,” I said, almost in a whisper, “I just slept on the couch over at Bud’s, or sometimes up at Mary and Frank’s (pictured, right)…”
R.I.P. Frank K.
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Posted in blog, creative nonfiction, dopefiend excerpt, Dopefiend: a father's journey from addiction to redemption, Frank K memoirial, memoir, people, Tim Elhajj, tribute
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Twenty Three Years
I couldn’t remember the exact date, but I knew it came after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, so my sponsor said December 1 seemed like a good choice. He and I had this conversation about three years into my recovery, which wasn’t even … Continue reading
Posted in blog, Dopefiend, recovery, sober anniversaries, things, Tim Elhajj
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RIP: Pace (2004 2011)
My dog died yesterday morning. He was a good dog, but he didn’t have a long time on this earth. He was my first pet and I really loved him. One time I was acting as an AA sponsor for … Continue reading →
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Dopefiend Reading Guide: Chapter One, Honesty
In Alcoholics Anonymous, the first step is about recognizing that alcohol is ruining your life. That may seem a little obvious, but in practice it’s actually one of the biggest challenges an addict will ever face. In the first chapter … Continue reading →
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Posted in addiction, blog, chapter one honesty, Dopefiend, Dopefiend reading guide, Reading Guide, recovery memoir, things
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Dopefiend Excerpt: Sunday Celebrations at Rockford
Each week at Rockford, there was a Sunday celebration: families brought home-cooked meals, girlfriends appeared in tight jeans and teased hair, and sons mended family ties. Aaron (not pictured) and I (pictured, far right) never participated. He had a girlfriend … Continue reading →
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Posted in blog, creative nonfiction, dopefiend excerpt, Dopefiend: A Father’s Journey from Addiction to Redemption, memoir, places, Tim Elhajj
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A Stack of DOPEFIENDS at Barnes & Noble
Holly and I rarely go to Barnes & Noble. Usually if we want a book, we end up at one of the independent bookstores around here. But last night we did go to Barnes & Noble. Holly said, “Let’s go … Continue reading →
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Posted in blog, Dopefiend, places, Tim Elhajj
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Dopefiend Excerpt: Joey and His Mom Celebrate Three Years Old
More than twenty years ago, I moved to New York City with less tan twenty dollars in my pocket to kick a heroin habit. I was leaving behind my beautiful three-year-old boy, who had his mother’s straw-colored hair and clear … Continue reading →
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Posted in blog, creative nonfiction, dopefiend excerpt, Dopefiend: A Father’s Journey from Addiction to Redemption, memoir, people, Tim Elhajj
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Q: Is Tim Elhajj Available to Come Speak with My Book Group or Writing Group?
A: Absolutely. One of my work colleagues asked me this and I was thrilled to hear it. Thrilled! I love to talk about the book. Recovery. Writing. Memoir. Parenting in the wake of heroin addiction. Anything. It’s all fair game. … Continue reading →
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Q: How Do You Pronounce Elhajj?
A: Everyone asks this and it’s totally fair. You pronounce it phonetically like this: L Hodge.
Some Arabs might bicker, but it’s close enough for me.
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Posted in blog, Dopefiend, FAQ, Tim Elhajj
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