Dear Friend of Guest House,

In 1987 I was treated for alcoholism at Guest House in Rochester, Minnesota. For this life-changing experience, I am deeply grateful. Following my treatment, I was comforted in knowing Guest House would always be there if I needed help. I even carried around in my pocket a Guest House coin—it somehow offered me a sense of security.

When I learned in 2014 that Guest House was closing the Rochester location, I was surprised—and then I was sad. It was the kind of sadness you feel when your parents sell the house where you grew up. I realized I was feeling fear. I worried, “What if I need Guest House again?” The place I knew would no longer be there for me. My Guest House was not an option. Would I have to go to Lake Orion—a new place? What would it be like? Would my new therapist be as good as my therapist in Rochester? I didn’t want to go someplace I didn’t know.

Home Again
The time did come when I needed Guest House again. In 2018 I had to go to Lake Orion, Michigan, the place where Guest House originated. Though I was reluctant, I found a lot of interesting things when I arrived. The chapel was similar to the one I knew in Rochester, but it was bigger and brighter. It reminded me of my Guest House and offered me a moment of reflection. I discovered that there are abundant opportunities in Lake Orion. Some things were the same, like how the men got there and the feelings they had when they arrived. This felt very familiar.