Meet 52-year-old Newton resident Allan Lane
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In our “Around the Corner” feature, each week the Daily News’ Josh Koehn will track down a random Newton resident on the street and ask him or her a series of questions in a free-flowing conversation. This week we will be talking with 52-year-old Allan Lane.
Josh Koehn: Where were you born?
Allan Lane: I was born in Des Moines.
And how did you get to Newton?
Well, to make a long story short, I met a girl in a bar and followed her up here.
That’s the best start to every story. And how did that work out?
Well, the relationship didn’t work out, but I kind of have roots here in Newton. My mom and her family are from here, so is my grandfather. When I lived in Des Moines, it always felt like I wanted to be in the country anyways. I moved out here because I quit doing drugs and alcohol and got sober and straightened my life up.
Good for you. How long have you been sober?
Twenty-two years now.
And what do you do now?
Now I’m retired, still do a little mowing — I did have my own lawn care business for about 15 years, but I had a heart attack in ‘07.
Geez, how you doing with that?
Pretty good; I had three stints put in. After about a year or so I was doing a lot better. I’m doing stuff again, I’m mowing, got a Harley (Davidson) again.
Look at you, and you got the AC/DC “Back in Black” shirt on. I bet you get on the Harley — maybe put some shades on — and you scare the crap out of people.
I wish I could wear these glasses under my sunglasses, and I’d be doing a lot better off now.
I tell you what, if you were wearing sunglasses I wouldn’t have stopped and talked to you. The beard, the long hair, the AC/DC shirt, the shades—
And this (shows a Harley Davidson tattoo).
See, I would have been very afraid of you. What would you say is your favorite thing about this area?
Well, you know, the small town. And like I said, I got roots in the area. ... I like fishing and stuff. I still go to Red Rock and go camping down there.
You’ve got a different story than a lot of the people I’ve talked to. What would you say is the thing that has helped you the most in getting over addiction?
Hitting rock bottom. Basically, pissing off and disgusting everyone around me. And the one thing that haunts me the most was when my mom was an enabler, I got her to the point where she said that ‘you get out and stay out and if you break into the basement again, I’m calling the cops on you.’ When she did it, I knew she was for real that time because there was something different. Plus, I was looking at possible time in prison. I had been in and out of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), and I knew that other people had made it work. I just knew there was a better life. Coming to Newton was one of the best things I did, because it got me away from my playgrounds and playmates and out here with new people. It’s been a real blessing to be here in Newton. I like it.
That’s a great story. I’m real happy for you, and I think other people will be happy for you too. That’s one things Americans love: redemption. A good story of coming back after a big fall.
I tell you, whenever you think somebody is beyond hope, don’t give up on them but you got to stop doing for them. You got to do the tough-love thing.
Finish this sentence for me, ‘If I had a million dollars I would ...’
I would help my sisters out. And I would do some things for me too, of course.
A second Harley?
Well, probably not a second one but I might trade this one in for another one. Even if I had a million dollars, I’m still used to doing things the cheapest, most economical way of doing it. I don’t know if you want to call me a penny pincher, or whatever. I don’t think of that as being cheap.
I’ve been called that plenty of times.
But when you ain’t got no money you got to make it last.
Thank you!
Cheap is when you got a bunch of money and you don’t want to spend none of it.
See, that’s exactly what I’ve told so many ex-girlfriends. ‘It’s not that I’m cheap. If I had money we’d be spending it left and right. I just don’t have any money.’
That’s right. That’s the way to do it.
I need to introduce you to them.
(Laughs)
What’s one thing that could be improved upon around here?
Well, I’m on disability and stuff now and I work with the Department of Human Services .. and I just think some of the services could be improved. ... There are programs that can help you (financially) that they sometimes don’t always tell you about. It could be different for somebody else, but that’s been my experience.
I haven’t done this with anybody before, but I’m going to try something a little different. I’m going to give you a genre and you give me your favorite thing of that genre. All right? You’re wearing an AC/DC T-shirt, so what’s your favorite band?
(Lynard) Skynard
Favorite movie?
Shane. Remember that one?
Oh yeah, Jack Palance, great movie. Best looking woman ... that’s famous?
Raquel Welch. Remember her?
Well, I’m a young guy, so I only know her from Seinfeld. Favorite TV show?
House.
Favorite place?
Somewhere like Boulder, Colorado.
Thing that makes you happiest?
I got several things, but I guess the thing that makes me happiest is to be able wake up the next morning and know what happened the day before.
Real good.
