The 3rd annual Roundup is over and it was awesome. This one was multi-12 step program participation soooo the mix was wide and very good with lots of new things to learn from others who work the steps to handle whatever addiction that's trying to take them out. The recovery count down was a rip with the spread from 38 years to 3 newbies with 1day apiece. Experience...Strength and Hope. I found my self near the end of the long line so when it was over I was closer to the newbies for hugs and encouragement.
The Saturday night speaker meeting was a husband and wife team I've known for several years. She found the strength and courage to speak in front of a large crowd without turning to dust and spoke very easily about how it was like being married to our kind. His turn and his journey was clearly told from childhood and the start of his alcoholism with Dandylion wine and laying back in the snows of Montana at the age of 7 and coming to realize that his life had really just begun. He wondered why his friend who was sleeping over was able to quit after just two and stay in bed and sleep and he could not. He didn't know then that he was alcoholic and had just turned on a switch and he didn't know that he didn't know. What he also knows now from Friday and a doctors visit is that he has pancreatic cancer. He would rather speak to the fellowship and be there than hideout afraid anywhere else. He was home and we are family. His story touched me deeply because he mentioned his age...we less than a year apart. I told him that I would do the journey with him and if he would he could sponsor me thru his process which one day will be mine also. He agreed...grateful. Like taxes its inevitable right? How inevitable I have no idea...from my experiences I am on borrowed time and have been for over 31 years. I have had several events which were near terminal only to have HP, without my prior knowledge or concent for that matter intervene. Not that I'm not grateful it is the will of God versus my expectations and assumptions and self assuredness that show me the miracles in life and this man is as worthy of one as anyone of us have been. By the way the theme of the Roundup? Miracles among us. Yes there are. Keep coming back, more will be revealed. Love and Peace
One of the people that helped me the most in the first couple of months of my sobriety has been battling pancreatic cancer also. He pretty much is showing the same attitude...still speaking and doing service. Amazing....
Also, Roundup here next weekend in Miami...Cmon down Floridians, it's a special Roundup.... You know, a pink triangle rainbow flag round up :)
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Glad for you. You certainly summed up AA well. It is the sharing of experiance, strength and hope with each other guided by God.
Larry,
-------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have no time for prayer and meditation, you will have lots of time for sickness and trouble.
