As most of you know I resolved myself to getting on with Step 4. I attacked it with fervency and zeal. I got myself a book and started writing. Got my 12 and 12 out and just started answering all the questions in each of the steps, and from there it just flowed from 1-3. Step 4, on the other hand I wrote everything down, contacted my sponsor and made a date. That date was today after church. We met at 1:00 p.m. and had a little chat about 1-3 on a ride to an AA meeting in a neighboring village. When the meeting was done it was mentioned there was a 15 yr.  celebration tonight and I was invited to go to another meeting. I made the usual excuses, but said what the heck, I'll go. On our way back we found a quiet spot to chat, parked the truck, and I proceeded to do my inventory. Before I knew, it was done. And Step 5 at the same time. I didn't even realize it.

So we headed off to this meeting, and not taking away from the significance of the event, it was a pleasant evening with a wonderful speaker.  There was this lady there I have met a few times before at other meetings. And this time we actually talked. 

Freeze the frame right now. Stop the film, stop everything.

I now have to back the story up 11 months. Here I am in my bathroom. Half in the bag, everyone sleeping, videogame on pause, about 12 shots of Smirnoff into me, beer in the fridge....... a dozen Gravol floating through my system, so life is goooood. I proceed to rifle around in the magazine bin for suitable reading material and there I saw it........ I maintain it was placed there strategically for me to find. And find it I did. A book offering advice on addiction, alcoholism , and co dependency issues.  How f***ing bloody convenient, and just a few days before our wedding anniversary..... happy f***ing anniversary dear, your present is beside the toilet. That action was the catalyst. It started me on the spiral downwards, and began my journey. That journey eventually led to our seperation, and now our impending divorce

Continuing the story

As we shared, she found out where I was from, where I live etc, etc. She tells me she is a counsellor, psychotherapist, author, and in the program for xx amount of years. Cooool I thou.... did you say author as well ?  Yes, an author, a published author. And she proceeded to tell me the name of her book. Now for those of you who know me, you know that something really profound is going to happen. That I had another epiphany, revelation or  profound experience.
As she told me the title, I asked her to repeat it. Yes, that is what I thought you said. Oh My God. The color drained from my face. She asked me if I was ok, if I was alright. Yes, she was the author of the book I found so strategically placed with the other magazines. I was dumbfounded, but told her my story. We stood there and hugged. And I thanked her. And she thanked me because her book helped me, and I didn't even read 1 word of it.   I wouldn't have found the book, if the ex wouldn't have bought it. My ex wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't  written. If it wasn't written, I wouldn't be in such a good spot right now. I wasn't happy with my new freind at that point in time, in fact I probably hated her. But now ?   It's indescribable.

  So, the ex can have the book. But to know the author ?  You can't even compare the two. Now that is a Higher Power story if I ever heard one. That God would put me into a place, when I didn't want to go in the first place. To meet the author of the book that pushed me over the edge. WOW !   Am I ever glad I write this stuff down.