E61 - Bonded Through Recovery: Ronnie and Amanda's Love Story
Bonded Through Recovery: Ronnie and Amanda's Love Story
In this episode of the Prisoner's Pardon Podcast, host Michi J welcomes Amanda and Ronnie Woodle, a remarkable couple who have conquered their struggles with drug addiction to become successful business owners. The episode delves into their unique love story, which began amidst a troubled backdrop of drug use, and how they navigated through cycles of addiction, legal troubles, and family challenges. Amanda and Ronnie share openly about their journey of recovery, the importance of mutual support in overcoming addiction, and the value of re-establishing family bonds. Their story is an inspiring testament to resilience, commitment, and the power of love in achieving a better life.
00:00 Welcome to the Show
00:13 Meet Amanda and Ronnie Woodle
00:34 A Love Story Born from Addiction
03:00 The Struggles of Recovery
08:00 Turning Points and Realizations
11:59 The Role of Family and Grandkids
15:33 The Road to Redemption
19:16 Life After Addiction
28:42 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Transcript
it can be done and you can do it together
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:I think for us and for everybody
that we talk to about stuff like
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:this is that it can be done.
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:, it's not just a choice.
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:It's a determination.
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:And don't let them tell you that
you can't do it because you can.
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:And you can have everything that you want.
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:Do you have to work for it?
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:Absolutely.
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:But it can be done and
you can do it together.
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:Michi J: Hello everyone.
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:And welcome to a
prisoner's pardon podcast.
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:. I'm Michi J your host.
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:And I'm so happy to have you
here I know I always say it's a
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:special show, but you know what?
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:It always is.
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:Today I have a couple on.
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:Their name is Amanda and Ronnie Woodo.
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:Yes, a couple.
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:I never thought I would
have a couple on as well,
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:but.
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:I had to have these two on because
they are successful business owners.
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:Traveling the country
together as a couple.
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:It's an incredible love story,
this story didn't begin this way.
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:It began with recovery looking
at what they're doing now,
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:how successful they are.
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:You would never think that they
had to go through a recovery.
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:Yes.
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:Both of them was hooked on drugs.
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:But now.
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:They're not.
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:The incredible thing is how they did it.
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:Together.
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:Michi J: I'm going to let
them introduce themselves, and
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:then we're going to get into
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:They're
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:Michi J: story, hi, Amanda.
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:And hi, Ronnie.
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:Amanda: Oh, hi.
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:Good to be on the show.
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:Michi J: Well, thank you so much.
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:Okay.
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:I want you to tell us,
like, how did you two meet?
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:Amanda: So we actually met through
drugs, um, honestly, because, um, my
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:ex husband and his ex wife were friends
and we all were in the meth scene.
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:And, um, I had separated from my
husband, but was hanging out with
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:friends of theirs still, and the
circles just overlapped, right?
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:So then we ended up,
um, partying together.
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:Yeah.
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:And, uh, it kind of just went from there.
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:And.
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:Um, he and his wife ended up separating
and divorcing and me and my husband
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:ended up separating and divorcing
and it just kind of, I don't know, I
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:hate to say that it was meant to be
through the addiction because that
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:was not a great way to start it.
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:But had we not both been in that
scene, we would have never met.
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:Michi J: True
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:Ronnie: story.
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:Michi J: Yes, you know what, that's
fine to say, because a lot of
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:couples meet under, , less desirable
circumstances, but they do meet, right?
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:So you
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:Amanda: know,
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:Michi J: So what attracted you to,
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:Ronnie: amanda is beautiful.
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:So I was just instantly interested
in her when I first met her.
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:Amanda: And Ronnie's personality and humor
is what attracted me to him at first.
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:He's just, he's always happy
and jovial and laughing.
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:And it was nice to see that, , whether
it was drug induced or not, which by the
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:way, it's not, cause he's still like that.
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:Michi J: Well, good thing.
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:Right.
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:Absolutely.
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:Now, what actually you, you met over
drugs and what happened after that?
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:Amanda: So we, well, actually I got
in trouble on a few occasions shortly
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:after we got together, uh, mostly
misdemeanor possession type of things.
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:, and we're in Wyoming, so I don't know how
the laws differ from, , Wisconsin, but,
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:um, Our department of family services
is pretty tight with stuff like this.
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:So we lost our, well, I lost
my kids, Ronnie's kids weren't
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:living with us at the time.
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:Um, and we kind of went through the,
the whole rehab and out of rehab and
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:getting the kids back and being okay
for a little while, and then right back
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:into it again, and just like the cycle
just kept continuing, you know, and
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:this has been, you know, that was over.
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:Well, I've done meth off and on since
I was about 18, so I'm, you know,
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:granted, it's been nine, 10 years now,
but it was a good 25, almost 30 years.
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:You know, it was a long time, not
that it was always all the time.
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:And I didn't lose the kids till
early thirties probably for the
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:first time, but I did lose the
kids twice to this, you know?
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:And so then there, like
I said, it was a process.
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:And so we would clean up and
we'd go through rehab and we'd.
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:Get the kids back and then we'd be
good for a while and then we slippery
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:slope down again and it was just
like a, I was so tired of picking
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:ourselves up out of rock bottom.
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:It wasn't even funny.
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:Ronnie: Amanda lived in Gillette
since she was a child, like, which
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:is northern Wyoming, by the way.
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:Amanda: And
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:Ronnie: I'm from Rapid City,
South Dakota, South Dakota.
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:And, uh, I moved up there to
work in the oil field anyway.
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:Um, so me and Amanda are the
same age, but we didn't know each
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:other from school or anything.
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:Cause I moved up here
when I was 18, I guess.
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:But, uh, anyway, um, we decided to make
a complete change and we moved, um,
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:150 miles away from that town just to
get away from the people and everything
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:surrounding that lifestyle, you know?
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:Um, but, um,
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:Amanda: You can find it
wherever you're looking for.
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:Yeah, which we find out got
hung up on it again up here
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:Ronnie: remove code
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:Michi J: So What kind of drove you
towards drugs in the first place?
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:Was it because it was what
everybody else was doing?
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:What what kind of got you into that scene?
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:Ronnie: For me, it was, uh, bikers,
uh, banditos, because he grew
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:Amanda: up right outside of Sturgis.
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:So motorcycle rally type stuff.
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:Yes.
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:And for me, I grew up in the
sheltered Christian home.
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:Where I couldn't do anything.
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:So that's what was kind of my outlet.
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:Not that I got, you know, it was
mostly pot back then until after my
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:first divorce and then it was kind
of the people I was hanging out with
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:kind of experimental type stuff.
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:And that's, that's one, once you
start experimenting and you find,
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:if you find it fun, it's a quick,
Hey, let's do this more often.
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:And then all of a sudden
you're doing it all the time.
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:So,
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:Michi J: right.
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:So was that like a slippery
slope sort of deal?
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:It kind of slipped up on you.
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:Absolutely.
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:Amanda: Every time we've gone back to it
has been like that, which is why we know
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:we can't even try it once now because
we call it weekend warriors, right?
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:So you pick a weekend, you're like, you
know what, we should just do, you know,
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:meth for the weekend and clean the house
or just, you know, party and have fun.
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:Well, in our area, it's not, it's readily
available, but you have to know the
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:right people and it doesn't always hit
at the right time because we're not big
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:city, we're rural small town, right?
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:Right.
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:So we would try to find it on a Friday
night and it would be like Sunday
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:morning when we'd finally get it and
then you're up for 24 hours, which
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:then puts you into the work week.
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:And then, so then you're looking for
more because you're tired because you've
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:been up for the weekend, you know,
and it just kind of all of a sudden
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:perpetuated into instead of just an
every once in a while weekend, you're
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:doing it three quarters of the week
and then you're doing it every day.
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:Michi J: Oh, okay.
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:So this is different.
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:This is like looking at
it in a small town way.
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:Yes.
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:And it's not as accessible and
it kind of messed up your routine
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:because you couldn't absolutely
imagine you guys absolutely are funny.
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:Okay.
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:That's hilarious.
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:Okay, so that's, that's good to know.
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:And, you know, people are, you know,
doing this and they need to hear this,
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:and this is just what, what's going on?
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:So yeah.
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:And when you were doing it and
you, you slipped up and how, how
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:did you, you get out of that?
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:You know, you, you just woke
up and look, I'm tired of it.
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:Amanda: What
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:Michi J: happened?
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:Amanda: This final time, or like the
times before, before we went back
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:into it, because they're different.
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:So when we got in trouble
earlier, the last time, uh,
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:Ronnie: That we did it, um, it was,
um, after the SWAT team busted down
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:our door and pointed a laser sights
at everybody and we went to jail.
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:Amanda: But we were ready.
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:So the other thing about where we're at
is that, so we hit, we started dealing
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:it because we were being ripped off
by the people we were buying it from.
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:But in order to do that, we had to
drive to our nearest Large metropolitan
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:city, which happens to be Denver, right?
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:To acquire it, right?
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:So now all of a sudden we're
drug running and drug dealing.
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:So that's where this
kind of all tripped up.
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:But on top of that, It was
the, the quality back then.
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:So we're talking nine and a half
years ago when we got busted.
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:So about 10 years ago, I would say we got
to a point where we were, we were done.
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:We were tired of doing it.
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:We, it wasn't doing
what we wanted it to do.
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:It was garbage.
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:It was expensive.
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:You know, I mean, it was just,
everything was going wrong.
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:We couldn't keep jobs.
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:It was just one thing after another.
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:And we got to a point where we both
looked at each other about six months
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:before we got busted and we're like, Hey,
We need to stop because this is crap.
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:But the problem was is that we didn't
have jobs except for, for dealing drugs.
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:And so we couldn't get jobs
cause we couldn't stay off the
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:drugs long enough to get them.
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:And, um, it just ended up being one of
those things where we were ready to quit.
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:We just didn't know how, and
as we were deciding to quit.
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:I had a medical bill, like a
large one for a neck issue I had
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:that went to collections and they
started hitting our bank account,
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:like right before rent was due.
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:So we were like, okay,
well we're done doing this.
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:And then they took
everything we had for rent.
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:So we had nothing to
provide for our family for.
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:So we made one last trip
to Denver to get more.
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:And that was when we got busted.
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:Well, that's it.
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:Like two days afterwards, we got busted.
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:So it was, I want to say it was
a blessing in disguise because it
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:was, it was a little bit more of a
kick than what we were expecting.
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:Yes.
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:Ronnie: I wish I wish it could have
happened with two less felonies.
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:Amanda: Yeah.
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:But either way, I mean, the
end result was what we needed.
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:So
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:Michi J: for sure, for sure.
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:So this is like.
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:You're both you what you came
into agreement together like,
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:Hey, this is not for us.
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:So you both were on board because normally
I shouldn't say normally, but sometimes
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:a lot you do see people where one wants
to get off and the other one doesn't and
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:you two were together on that as well.
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:So how, how did this happen?
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:It's just like, you, you nudged
each other and like, I was already
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:thinking that Amanda, I was just
waiting for you to say that.
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:What?
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:Amanda: Yeah,
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:Ronnie: it's getting older
and tired of, you know,
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:Amanda: it's
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:Ronnie: kind of
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:Amanda: wasting our lives on what?
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:I mean, we were renting this
like shoe box house for.
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:There was crap, you know, and it was, we,
we'd always kind of, we would peak and
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:then we would valley and then we would
fall off the planet and then we would
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:peak and we would validate, it was just
like, there were people our age that
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:were, you know, had great careers and they
were traveling and they had, you know,
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:all this stuff that we wanted, right.
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:And, and it wasn't, it
wasn't just a drive.
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:It was more of a, what are we doing?
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:Yeah.
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:So, but, but on, on top of
that, really, really late.
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:Yeah, really late.
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:Really late.
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:Because we were, you know, Yeah.
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:Late for late thirties.
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:Late thirties.
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:But, uh, you know, and, and our
kids were getting older too.
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:That was the other thing.
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:Our kids were watching what we were doing.
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:Michi J: Mm-Hmm.
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:Amanda: And we had grandkids coming
because my son had already had
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:Myra, right when we got busted.
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:So we had our first granddaughter that
was like a year old when we got busted.
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:And it, I just, I didn't want.
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:I didn't want, you know,
I didn't want that.
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:I didn't want the family.
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:There was, it wasn't even
necessarily a status thing.
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:I just didn't want the, the grandkids
and our kids to not want to be around us.
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:And I didn't even want to
be around us half the time.
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:I mean, we were dumb.
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:Michi J: That was, you know what,
that I was going to ask about that.
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:What about the kids?
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:Did that kind of rob you?
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:But you say, you know, you
automatically went there.
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:Thank you for that.
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:The grandkids.
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:So, you know, I kind of liking
you guys to Bonnie and Clyde.
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:So I don't think the great.
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:We have five now.
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:Oh, Congratulations about that.
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:So that's good that you stopped
when that first one came.
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:Cause you would have had
a lot of explaining to do.
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:Well,
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:Amanda: you know, I just wish we
would have stopped before the kids
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:came because they we've put our
kids through way more than they
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:should have ever had to go through.
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:We, we really have now they've,
they've mostly, mostly turned
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:out to be really good people.
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:You know, some of them still have a little
ways to go, but you know, um, My son's
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:been through Ronnie's my fourth husband.
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:I'm his third wife.
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:So
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:Ronnie: together.
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:We're lucky number seven
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:Amanda: But you know, so I put my my
son who is now he'll be 29 and in August
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:and you know I put him through three
failed marriages And, you know, the
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:whole time pretty much drug addiction.
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:When I was with his dad, it was mostly
pot, you know, and I don't really consider
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:that an addiction, it was just what we did
at the time, you know, and then after that
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:it was, you know, meth and coke and pretty
much anything I could get my hands on.
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:Not to mention a lot of
alcohol back then, too.
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:And not that I don't
drink now, because I do.
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:Um, but I'm very responsible about it now.
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:Because we have driving jobs and whatnot.
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:So, um, but, but it, you know, when
the grandkids came, it kind of put
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:a different twist to it because my
son was basically like, Nope, we're
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:not doing this, you know, and I'm,
I'm extremely proud of him for that.
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:He's tried it all.
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:He used to have a problem with,
um, well, he used to have anger
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:issues too, but behavioral issues.
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:But, um, but alcohol was his big
thing and he doesn't even do that now.
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:So,
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:Ronnie: but, but he does do
kratom and it's a problem for him.
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:Amanda: Yeah, that's true.
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:But it does keep him from drinking.
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:So I guess there's that.
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:And, you know, he's got a mine job,
so, you know, he has a very, you know,
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:he does, he does what he needs to do
and he provides for his family and I
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:couldn't be prouder of the two of them.
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:Ronnie: He calls his mom all
the time for advice about, uh,
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:Amanda: about life, financial
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:Ronnie: issues,
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:Amanda: taxes, and car titles and
just, you know, stuff like that.
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:And I love it.
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:I love the fact that
I'm his go to, you know.
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:That's
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:Michi J: awesome.
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:That's awesome.
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:I'm so proud of both of you, um, in
making, you know, looking at the kids
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:and the grandkids and, watching those
little eyes watching you and knowing that.
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:Hmm.
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:I don't want them to see that.
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:So in making those changes, so
that was when you two made those
318
:changes again, you said that was
right when the grandkids were there.
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:And one of the things that you
did, you said you, you moved away.
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:Amanda: Well, so we moved a
couple of years before we quit.
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:So we moved in moved in 2012,
July, June, June of:
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:Like I said, about two hours
away from quote unquote home.
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:And started new and that lasted about
a year before we got right back into
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:it again, we got busted in March of
:
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:Michi J: So why, why haven't
you touched it since?
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:Is it you didn't move again did you?
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:Amanda: No, no, we got
busted in this town.
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:Ronnie: We thought we were
done when we left and let, and
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:then they fell into it again.
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:And then after we got
busted, I mean, that was,
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:Amanda: well, we, like I said, we
were, we already knew we were ready.
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:We were ready to be done.
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:And I think that that's
the key for addiction.
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:You, I don't care.
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:How many people tell you you need to
quit or force you into this or force you
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:into that, you know, yes, going to jail
helps because it makes you, you know,
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:clean up for a while, but until you are
ready, you are not going to quit, period.
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:I don't, I don't care who it is.
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:It has to be that ready to quit
thing, which we both were, we just
340
:didn't know necessarily how, and
then I ended up, you know, and I
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:only spent like three weeks in jail.
342
:Ronnie had like two, but I had an
eight to 10 year sentence over my head.
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:That was the other thing.
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:I didn't want to miss out on seeing the
grandkids grow up and our kids graduate.
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:We had at least one that hadn't graduated
from high school yet, you know, and it
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:was still pretty little and, you know,
there was just all these things in life
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:I didn't want to miss out on because
I was sitting in prison somewhere.
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:Michi J: So, I would like,
rationalize this to be
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:something like, it's, it's love.
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:Amanda: It is.
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:For each other, for ourselves,
for our kids, for our
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:grandkids, for a better life.
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:And, and you know what?
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:And we have that now.
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:And now we're switching gears again, but
because we had, we got what we wanted
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:and now we want something different.
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:You know what I mean?
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:Michi J: Ronnie, you are
about to say something.
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:Ronnie: I don't recall.
360
:Michi J: Okay.
361
:I'm sorry about that, Ronnie.
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:Um, yeah.
363
:So I like what you said, Amanda,
that you have to be ready and people,
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:it depends on the person, what
makes them ready for you, you too.
365
:It was the grandkids.
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:You were paying attention to what
they were paying attention to.
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:So that's, really significant.
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:So after you're ready, then the
necessary steps was it hard to do
369
:did you feel, , some sort of pressure
after you, you were ready, but you
370
:still had to make some changes.
371
:Everybody does like you,
make some small changes.
372
:Of course, you weren't hanging
around and you weren't, you know,
373
:Amanda: we severed ties with
everybody except for, um, my best
374
:friend who happened to be one of
the people we used to party with.
375
:Um, but they were extremely respectful
in the fact that we said, do not
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:bring it over and do not come
around if you're on it, period.
377
:And we had to do that
for a really long time.
378
:Nowadays, it's not as big of a deal for
us because we're, we're comfortable in.
379
:Being clean, so we could be around it and
not be tempted by it now, but for a good
380
:probably four or five years, it was like,
nope, and if we showed up anywhere where
381
:it was happening, we just left, we had
to, because we know we can't do that one
382
:time without it becoming an issue again.
383
:And we have too much to lose now.
384
:I mean, we have, we have a nice
house and we've got great jobs
385
:and we just bought an RV and are
hopefully semi retiring in four years.
386
:Ronnie: It's not an RV,
but it's a motor coach.
387
:Amanda: What's the difference?
388
:We have a huge 39 foot bus, basically.
389
:Like one of the really big, it
looks like a tour bus, basically.
390
:Michi J: Wow.
391
:Amanda: So, and you know, I never in a
million years would have dreamt that we
392
:could have gotten to where we are now.
393
:In like nine, 10 short years, really,
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:Michi J: from where
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:Amanda: we started.
396
:Yeah, 10 short years.
397
:We've got retirement.
398
:We've got, you know, we have awesome,
awesome, we've got great credit scores.
399
:We've got brand new cars.
400
:We have four wheelers and motorcycles
and we take vacations and, you
401
:know, it was everything we wanted.
402
:We just took a long time to get here.
403
:Michi J: Well, 10 years is not that
long compared, you know, looking
404
:at how much you accumulated.
405
:Amanda: Oh, absolutely.
406
:I, I could have never dreamed we could
have done it in 10 years for sure.
407
:But we've worked
408
:Ronnie: to do it.
409
:Our next step is going to be also
for, The grandkids and ourselves.
410
:Um, we're going to early retire and
that's kind of what the bus is for.
411
:Um, but so that we can visit
family and grandkids and things
412
:that we don't have time for right
now because we work way too much.
413
:We do work a lot.
414
:We work a lot.
415
:Amanda: And they're growing up
without us because we work too
416
:much now instead of, you know.
417
:Do drugs all the time.
418
:So,
419
:Michi J: well,
420
:Amanda: yeah,
421
:Michi J: it's a big difference.
422
:You went from very, unproductive
lives to very productive lives.
423
:And now you're transitioning to where
you want to make sure you're in.
424
:Even more productive because you're,
you're looking at your grandkids and
425
:you want to, , establish relationships,
better relationships with them because
426
:you realize the importance of that.
427
:Am I getting that right?
428
:Amanda: Absolutely.
429
:Absolutely.
430
:Because, you know, well, our oldest
granddaughter just turned 10.
431
:She, she plays soccer and she's.
432
:Fantastic at it.
433
:And they travel and she plays
soccer games all over Utah.
434
:And it's, I, I've gotten
to see one practice.
435
:She's played for four years and
I've got to see one practice.
436
:I have yet to see a game
because she's too far away.
437
:And we have like 36 hours off on a
weekend, except for the one week a
438
:year, we get off together because
that's all we get off together.
439
:Right now.
440
:Michi J: Okay.
441
:All right.
442
:So you two, it just looks like in,
you know, I was around you to you
443
:to have an awesome relationship.
444
:You're laughing, you're talking
together, you're engaging.
445
:I mean, I, I do call you
guys, Bonnie and Clyde.
446
:You all are so well matched,
you know, so well matched.
447
:And it's really hopeful with someone
that probably been through some
448
:relationships that didn't work out.
449
:And, and now, you know, You know, giving
them the hope that they can get to that
450
:place where they do have that individual.
451
:So I do applaud you be, you know, being
together because like I said, you got
452
:couples that fall apart under the.
453
:Way less of pressure than you
guys did having SWAT teams come
454
:into the house and stuff like
455
:Amanda: that.
456
:You've had relationships fall
apart for way less than that too.
457
:And the other thing was, is when
we went through treatment, they
458
:almost didn't let us do it together.
459
:Because, because of the fact that
most of the time one or the other of
460
:the couple will fall off the wagon
and then it takes the other one with.
461
:Michi J: Right.
462
:Amanda: So a lot of
times they separate them.
463
:Michi J: So how
464
:Amanda: did you
465
:Michi J: get them to
let you do it together?
466
:Amanda: We, uh, pled with them.
467
:We said, Hey, you know,
we need to do this.
468
:You know, this is something
we need to do together.
469
:Um, we're both all in and if it's
going to work, it's going to work.
470
:And if it's not, it's not.
471
:But then they gave us a shot.
472
:They also told us that if it
wasn't going to work, they would
473
:separate us out after that.
474
:But, you know, they w they didn't want
us to, at first they almost, they've
475
:tried to make us separate completely.
476
:They tried to make us
live in separate houses.
477
:Yeah.
478
:Ronnie: My judge,
479
:Amanda: my judge tried to do that twice.
480
:Um, you know, tried to make us.
481
:Before we were married, when I got in
trouble, they tried to, to separate us,
482
:we were, um, engaged and they're like,
no, you need to, you know, break up
483
:with him and I'm like, we're engaged.
484
:It's not going to happen.
485
:Sorry.
486
:And then this last time when,
you know, we'd been married
487
:for years and years and years.
488
:Say what's our,
489
:Ronnie: what's our anniversary is here.
490
:Amanda: What do you mean
what's our anniversary?
491
:What number?
492
:You don't know what number is?
493
:I
494
:Ronnie: can't think of it right now.
495
:Amanda: Twelve.
496
:Twelve.
497
:We've been married 12
years as of end of July,
498
:Michi J: we've
499
:Amanda: been together for 17.
500
:Michi J: Wow.
501
:This is an incredible story.
502
:I really, that, that is
what I was talking about.
503
:It's very unusual.
504
:It's usually one day fall off
and the other one,, want to stay,
505
:you know, so it's like, but I'm
glad to hear that it is possible.
506
:It is possible.
507
:Together.
508
:And it just depends on the people.
509
:So, and, and they gave you a shot.
510
:So I hope, people are listening
to this then to understand that
511
:family does need to, if at all
possible, keep them together.
512
:So
513
:Amanda: definitely, Oh, that was just
give the hope and give the extra chances
514
:because it's not like my biggest thing
was I was, when we left Gillette.
515
:I had had the kids taken away twice, and
then this third time, when they, Gillette
516
:DFS, Department of Family Services,
told me this is your last chance.
517
:If she goes away again, it was my youngest
at that time, because my oldest was Old
518
:enough to go with his dad at that point.
519
:Um, and my, our youngest is autistic,
so it was a different kind of case.
520
:Um, but they're like, if, if they
take her away again, she's gone.
521
:So when we got busted with our
felonies, I immediately was freaked
522
:out because I thought we were done.
523
:I thought she was gone for good.
524
:And that they were going to place her in
some foster care, you know, she'd end up
525
:being part of the system and I, it was
not going to be okay one way or another,
526
:but I tell you what, the biggest thing
for me with that too, was that the DFS
527
:system in where we live now worked with
us immediately and they're like, we're not
528
:trying to take her away where we live now,
529
:Ronnie: where we moved from,
they were, they were the
530
:ones that said, uh, it's over
531
:, Amanda: Like made this jump through hoops
for years and gave her back finally.
532
:Here where we're at now, it was like four
or five months, and we did everything we
533
:were supposed to, you know, we were daily
UAing, and everything was good, and we
534
:were going to classes, and we were doing
everything we were supposed to, and we
535
:had her back in like four or five months,
and they're like, no, we're planning on
536
:reuniting, because I had given up hope as
soon as I went to jail, because I thought,
537
:our daughter's gone, she's gone, I'm,
you know, I'm never gonna see her again.
538
:And just, I think that hope, hope and
ambition and something to work for
539
:Ronnie: that day, a lot of them,
540
:Amanda: they allowed us because it was,
you know, I, I really was at the point
541
:where I was like, we're just, we're just
done, we're just done, we had to be done.
542
:Michi J: So that's good that, um,
I'm just gonna say that alluded to
543
:forgiveness and them giving you chances.
544
:guys.
545
:To rectify that situation, so we
do need to have that compassion for
546
:people to give them chances, of course,
protecting them and the kids at the
547
:same time, of course, but also allowing.
548
:Or that family to be reestablished.
549
:And so many times, like you said,
department of family services, , some
550
:of them, they do work to, they have like
the wrong mission is to take the kids.
551
:And when they should be looking at
how we can keep the kids with you,
552
:that's a whole different perspective.
553
:And that means you'll be doing
things a lot differently.
554
:So that is just a miracle.
555
:You guys, that's, that is a miracle that
you were able to get the kids back because
556
:normally DFS is, it's the entity unto
themselves and they have different rules.
557
:It's a whole nother court system.
558
:So
559
:Amanda: it definitely is,
560
:Michi J: definitely is
definitely different from
561
:the criminal justice system.
562
:They have their own system and we
do really need to bring them to have
563
:the some standards and keep it like.
564
:Not just, you can do this over
here and then you go to the
565
:next county and it's different.
566
:So then we're
567
:Amanda: at now that we were
fortunate to the fact that they
568
:have funding that helped us.
569
:They, they put us through rehab and
they paid for stuff like that, where it
570
:was, you know, when we were unemployed
and straight out of jail, we didn't
571
:have to try to figure out how to pay
for everything on top of all of that.
572
:So they provided treatment for us.
573
:Michi J: That is not
done in a lot of places.
574
:Amanda: Like I said, small
town, small town, which I guess
575
:is the fortunate part of that.
576
:Ronnie: He says it's a small
town, but this is the second
577
:largest city in our state.
578
:Michi J: Well, we're going to be
wrapping this up now, but what is
579
:the main thing you want the audience
to take away from this conversation?
580
:Both you and Ronnie, you can
say two different things,
581
:or you can do it together.
582
:Whichever you like.
583
:Ronnie: Buy a motorcycle.
584
:Amanda: No, I think for, for us and
for everybody that we talk to about
585
:stuff like this is that it can be done.
586
:You know, it's not just
it's not just a choice.
587
:It's a determination.
588
:And don't let them tell you that
you can't do it because you can.
589
:And you can have everything that you want.
590
:Do you have to work for it?
591
:Absolutely.
592
:But it can be done and
you can do it together.
593
:Michi J: Together.
594
:I like that.
595
:Together.
596
:Together.
597
:You can do it together.
598
:Ronnie: Okay,
599
:Michi J: well, thank you so much.
600
:Amanda and Ronnie, this was a pleasure
and you are my Bonnie and Clyde.
601
:I really thank you for coming on and
sharing your experience and sharing
602
:with the audience how to stick together.
603
:I say, not just through beauty,
because yes, Amanda is very beautiful.
604
:Ronnie is very funny as well.
605
:So it's, you need those things and
beauty is from the inside out humor.
606
:Everybody needs humor.
607
:So.
608
:Amanda: That's true.
609
:Michi J: All right.
610
:Well, thank you all.
611
:You all have a blessed evening and thank
you for being on the show again and again.
612
:I thank you again and again.
613
:So that's all.
614
:Oh, wow.
615
:Yes.
616
:It was a pleasure.
617
:So
618
:Ronnie: I was going to say thank
you for the opportunity also.
619
:And this was fun.
620
:Michi J: Thank you.
621
:Well, that's it, everyone.
622
:Thank you for listening and may you
have a week filled with blessings.