.......your HP gives you a quick lesson in gratitude. I was 53 yesterday (belly button birthday) and was working, which is good and my wife came to visit. We've been separated 3+ years but our relationship is different and better. But she had to leave at 9 p.m. so i got feeling sorry for myself - y'know, on my own on my birthday (don't have to clarify any more do I?). So i went round to see my best mate, who had just rebuilt a gearbox for a motorbike for me, thought I'd pick it up.
So i drove over there (in my new car! and i'm feeling sorry for myself!) to find my gearbox re built as new and my best mate with a broken hand, a smashed motorbike and a big daft grin on his face.
Thank you God. i've got all I need and lot's that I want, I haven't had a bike accident and my mate is alive, well and laughing.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Happy Birthday Bill! I love motorcycle riding, sounds like you're working on a preunit Harley or Truimph? Never had either, but I've had quite European dirt bikes . Do you ride your bike to meetings? That's one of fav things to do.
Dear me not a harley nor a triumph, not that fortunate. every year i treat myself to a sobriety present on or around my AA birthday. the first birthday was an epiphone 335 and last year it was a 1960 AJS 350 in bits - so far i have rebuilt the engine (needed a crank rebuild though) and now th gearbox is done, Engine is in the frame and i'm rebuilding it as a trials / trail bike.
i have an Aprilia caponord rally raid (sort of an adventure bike, looks like I'm going round the world when I'm just going to walmart) which i took my recent holiday on. i also have a 1981 moto Guzzi awaiting restoration.
now i'm sober, these things are getting done.
I sometimes go to the meetings on my bike, but that mostly happens when i've been out for a ride and visit a different meeting. I usually use the car to go to my home meetings because several of us car share and I like to be able to offer a lift home to some of the guys who don't have transport if they ask me. Over here in Barnsley we always say that if you can get to the meeting, someone will always get you home.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Hey Bill, Great reminder. Just when things are going along nicely, and we actually have no real reason to feel bad for ourselves, the monster does a quick "pressure test" of the system to see if we'll bend that day. Like you say, thats when your HP steps in.
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"You're in the right place. That's the door right there. Turn around."
Bikerbill, thanks for that, thats a great story and made even better to know you're from Yorkshire !!!
It's so lovely to be sober... I was having a bit of a moment myself last night... over nothing in particular (it happens occasionally!), then out of the blue got a call from somebody from the fellowship, who called to tell me how grateful and thankful they are for the help they felt I offered them when they came in for the first time. I was quite taken a back and it really touched me - made me realise the importance of just a few kind words and open arms ! When I put the phone down I said a very heartfelt thanks to my HP to be in a position to help - that was certainly not the case a while ago !
yes, the pressure tests are good things. i don't look forward to them yet, but they have their place, and are like measure tapes of growth. i am learning to hold my tongue and reach up to my HP when i see one coming. they used to shock the heck out of me leaving me wondering what happened.... LOL. Congrats BB and thank you TG for your reminder.
Hey Bill, Great reminder. Just when things are going along nicely, and we actually have no real reason to feel bad for ourselves, the monster does a quick "pressure test" of the system to see if we'll bend that day. Like you say, thats when your HP steps in.
A pressure test of the system, that's something I understand and can identify with, thanks for that.
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It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got. BB
Aloha Biker and Happy (belly button) Birthday. We say it different locally and I will keep it simple. 53 is in the history books for me probably Jurassic some thing or other. That you and the distant spouse still have that relationship kind of makes me smile. Some survice fractures, breaks and all aaahhhh!!
As for motorcycles that is also for memories though there are two models I'd grit my teeth for given another go at it. 86-87 Magna and/or 88 800VT Shadow. I've been down on once and got to play a role in a miracle with it.
The fellowship you speak of there is as attractive as it it here. I'm grateful to it for it, and my HP for all of it.
Happy Birthday, Bikerbill! I too found it touching that you and the wife are still civil and care for one another. That is a real blessing. My husband and his ex have never gotten along better, and it makes things so much more pleasant. (Then, they DO live 1,000 miles away from us, and she married a handsome young ariforce guy 10 years younger, blond haired and blue eyed!!! LOL)
Love the bike thing. That is such a healthy obsession to have now!! Every year, at AA Founder's Day here in Akron, Ohio, I love to see the Sunday morning biker ordeal. Over a thousand bikers from all over the country ride their motorcycles down the main road in Akron to the cemetary where Dr. Bob was buried. They get into an enormous circle and sing "Amazing Grace" while weeping. A bunch of Harley guys and gals, crying together, sober, singing a spiritual song like that!! Something every alcoholic should see at least once in his/her life.
I miss our bike. We had a little BMW K1200 ??? (think I may have gotten the numbers wrong..LOL ????) It was so nice though. But hubby's back won't take it anymore, so we roll in the Baby Jag now and love it. Ahhhh, it's great to be sober, and have at least a "few" of your worldly dreams come true, along with all the spiritual ones. :o)
Joni
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~Your Higher Power has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
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