Hunny Powell: Person of the Week

My name is Hunny Powell. I love romance and value mutual respect from all humans. I am a native of San Francisco, a true 70’s flower child. The diversity of my environment affects my attitude towards others, my food choices, musical and theatrical loves. I was the mother of two sons, whom I am so proud of, and their fathers gave me four daughters. Hunny is Mom, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, Niece, Friend.

Q. Who are your heroes in real life?

A. Recovering individuals.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. San Francisco.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. BeeGees – “Love You Inside Out.”

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Too many to name: Al Jarreau, Bobby Caldwell, Will Downing, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston.

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Maps. It has GPS, nearest food, shopping, and can order transportation too.

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

A. The book I haven’t written yet. My son, who passed away, really wanted me to share my story. I love Sci-Fi, though.

Q. What sound or sounds do you most remember from your childhood?

A. Laughter and music are the sounds of my youth. The adults in my life were all very intelligent and witty people. I was a nosy little girl listening to many conversations I should not have. I was getting all the gossip of my life right through the music.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Haha, I don’t know who’s in recovery. This is an anonymous program.

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

A. In treatment, I found out that if I had not been compromised (under the influence of alcohol), I more than likely would not have decided to smoke that crack I had sworn off five years prior. Knowing that complete abstinence from all substances lowers the occurrence of relapse. Clarity is everything.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. My freedom.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. I believe my parents’ divorce shaped who I am. Major changes forced me into caregiving and independence. I love being cared for and safe.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

A. I am what’s considered a “high rock bottom,” with a bunch of “yets” to come. I had self-soothed with alcohol for several years, but I also had other substances, such as crack/powdered cocaine, as a close friend for years. I had to cease smoking crack cocaine at 17, because of the negative effects. My first husband said, “I didn’t act as bad with cocaine as with crack.” So, for about five years, I would occasionally socialize with marijuana (laced with powdered cocaine) with my alcoholic beverages. Fast forward five years, I picked up crack cocaine again, and within five months, I was experiencing psychosis, PTSD, and of course, I was close to eviction, the job, and children felt my absence or withdrawal from anything that seemed normal five months prior. My job as a longshoreman had an EAP, George Cobbs, and volunteers like Norman McLeod, who reached out to me before this day. I did make the call easier. I always let people know that when I called, I knew I needed distance from the crack cocaine, but not in a million years did I think I would be getting educated and deciding on a change that would change everything. When I picked up the phone, I was only focused on the PTSD and psychosis I was experiencing, not the drug use. I figured I had that licked, because I stopped a few days ago.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Be Yourself Always.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. OH my goodness!!!! 25% – Substance Use Disorder 25% – Diabetes & Other Chronic Health Issues outreach and education 25% – Helping other Countries with Issues mentioned above 25% – Grow With Hunnylove (My personal organization)

Q. How do you measure success?

A. How much peace I have. I don’t believe a truly successful human is sad, miserable, and insecure.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. What a funny question! I will retire and live on a mountaintop near the ocean, with access to nearby rivers and lakes.

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Alcohol was my first love substance, but Cocaine brought me to my knees. My Sobriety/Clean date is 2/20/1993.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. There are many special things in my toolkit, but I know my connection with my higher power, surrender, and staying in the middle of the herd, has carried me and many others when nothing else makes sense.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Yes, Orphan Black and a bunch of other stuff.

Q. What is something you’ve learned about yourself in the last six months?

A. I am continuing to grow, and I am proud of myself.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. I would have loved to have only been married once to my prince charming, but that didn’t happen. Next question.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. I have already lived it. Losing my children and grandchildren to death.

Q. What is your favorite compliment to receive, and why?

A. “I trust you.”

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Staying in my recovery process. Without this base, I don’t see any of my blessings that have followed being possible. I would have made the biggest mess of everything and more than likely not been alive at 55 years old.

Q. What do you value most in a friendship?

A. Patience.

Q. What is your most treasured possession?

A. The people in my life.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you (not including cell phone, keys, wallet, or lipstick)?

A. Water Bottle.

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. I have been a mother since the age of 14, so it became apparent to me that I was a grown-up when people addressed me as “mother” when speaking to me about my children, not looking for my mother. I was 19 with two children, married.

Q. What is your greatest extravagance?

A. I love to travel and eat. They both hold #1 when it comes to excessive or unnecessary expenditures or outlay of money.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I am from the most beautiful place in the world, the San Francisco Bay Area. I currently reside in the East Bay, or wherever the latest airplane lands.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Virgo.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Graced.