At Ridgeline Recovery, there is one chair that stands out — not for its impressive appearance or visibility in the room. This is no ordinary chair — it’s a chair representing the love and support, hope that radiates so much more energy than what this evil act could ever take away from us. This blue chair belonged to my father, Bob Danec. There he would sit for hours, engrossed in devotions – it was his hideaway. He would pray for our family, he would pray for friends of ours, or just people that he maybe hear needed a little extra push.
A Chair with a History
Unfortunately, my dad never got to see Ridgeline Recovery become a reality. He died in 2016 before the doors opened and never saw person one show up seeking recovery. Regardless, I know that were he here — as discreet and circumspect as ever where work is concerned– Joselyn would be sitting in a midnight-blue chair there every day with the rest of us cheering everyone on; cooing soothing words to some bright panther we’ve let him ‘see’; silently praying for all who pass through our doors. He was that type of a guy — nice, always ready to help somebody else.
Bob Danec never judged, only loved. He learned that most of the time life sucks, and more often than not we are stuck in situations we never wanted to be. Struggles maybe but never a hard heart. Instead I know it softened him, that much made his heart bigger and willing to be a person someone could sit with in their crap for longer than they were capable of and he more easily wanted them at least out of the rancidness part.
The Blue Chair at Ridgeline Recovery
So the blue chair now sits at Ridgeline Recovery, and is more than just a piece of furniture. A place of stories, of revisited hopes and dreams and where the soul of my dad calls home. This is the one which reminds us all that we can and must recover, no person goes on this walk alone with a shadow for company and love even prayer is never enough power when it truly matters in time.
A Legacy of Love in Drug Addiction Treatment
Someone sits there every single day. It could be because they are thinking for a moment, or replaying how far they have come (or to get the courage up to take another step). And in those moments, I would like to hope my dad is up there with them saying a silent prayer as he used to when we were all together.
Finding Hope at Ridgeline Recovery
The legacy of my father continued in the form of Ridgeline Recovery. That blue chair is small in its size, but big in the message that it symbolizes – hope and help to those searching for drug addiction treatment. It is a representation of the care, understanding and love we always desire to offer every individual that enters our doors. Well if you find yourself at Ridgeline take a seat in the blue chair. Use that comfort and know you are not on this journey alone.
Grateful,
Andy Danec
Agency Director | ridgelinerecovery.com
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