Trisha -
First of all, I'd like to borrow someone's skillet and bash the man over the head for his comments!!
Secondly, this is coming from an RA - I, too, lived on the streets, wore the same clothes forever, didn't shower (kinda hard when you're homeless), slept in vacant apartments, etc - you get the picture. This was MY choice.
If my dad would have come and "rescued me" at that time, I would have been home long enough to get cleaned up, eat, and then I would have run like he!! to get back to the "'hood" and get high because that's ALL I wanted at that time.
It was only because no one "rescued" me that I got locked up, had some time to think, without the dope numbing me out, that I realized that I didn't want that kind of life anymore. For some addicts, even being locked up doesn't work.
Please, let this man's opinion go. My dad never stopped loving me, just like you haven't stopped loving your daughter. He just loved me enough to let me find my way on my own, and for that I'm grateful.
Hugs and prayers!!
Amy