Aloha guys and gals...just want to jabber a bit; release some thoughts that have been
running around in my head for several days and needing to speak out kindly of one of
our local brothers in the fellowship who just crossed the hallway into the other rooms.

I use to call him "Weegie", short for Luigi which wasn't near what that suggested of
his geneology.  He was East Coast loved Italian cooking and was a chef and owner
of a walk in restaurant here in Hilo named as the title of this post.  "Weegie" was a
retread and I am grateful that he re-entered our fellowship again on the east side
of the Big Island.  I got to meet him and built up a relationship with him sharing
journeys.  He took as much as he could from the fellowship and always gave back.
He returned after loosing everything he had...just like most of us have done it.  He
carved his name into several neighborhoods on this island both drunk/high and sober.
When he was sober he was deeply loved and when he was the other...well we remember
what that was like.  He opened and lost restaurants.  He was a damned good chef and
business person until the hooch would come back home.  I believe that he put together
a contiguous string of 10 years this last time...maybe a bit more or less doesn't
matter cause he rebuilt his sobriety and helped to strengthen the sobriety of all
other members around him. 

I use to attend a very unique meeting in his neighborhood and more so in his living
quarters.  It was called "Fat City" and a bunch of 25 - 30 drunks use to attend and
we'd all have dinner before the meeting started of course with "Weegie" commanding
the kitchen;  greek salad, New York thin pizza, lasagne, "soft" drinks and prayer.  Our
7th tradition (there was no fee) was a bit more valuable than normal meetings and
then "we are responsible" right?

That's part of how "Weegie" grew in recovery...he brought himself and brought his
skill.  He didn't always cook...he worked the program as it was suggested by his
sponsor and he loved sitting down with other members to trade ideas, perceptions,
new awarenesses and the like...trading love. He was loved and gave it back.  He
didn't want to get back into restaurants...he has lost two already to the hooch and
herb.  He just wanted to get and stay sober.  During the journey he decided that
maybe he would consult a couple of entrepeneurs who were opening their own places
and "He Weege...you got the experience...share it."   Both places failed...not because
of him they just did.  He was offered a "job" baking in a Mexican Bake Good place and
we talked it out a bit.   He wasn't an owner just a part time baker, wouldn't take him
away from program and he could test his recovery out and his theory that the HPs
of the restaurant world were out to get him.  They weren't and in short time the owners
of the bakery offered him a deal which scared the hell out of him...he could have the
whole place at easy terms.  He did the prayer and meditation and work with his
sponsor and attended to his recovery and trusted God without crossed fingers behind
his back.  "Aloha Luigi" was just across the street of his last failed restaurant.  This
deal was the real deal...awesome to watch his life come together again and the magic
of how he touched others thru his cooking and management.  Lots of us program
people use to eat out at this little walk in eatery...we were alway in program...close
family and more.

Some stuff about us we hold anonymous from others.  Where some of the fellowship
wondered if the autopsy would comeback "alcohol or drugs" those of us who shared
his spirit knew that wasn't an issue.  He got sick and tired of taking his meds for a
perforated ulcer.  The joy of carrying the message to others the way he had been
and being a part of the fellowship wasn't strong enough to trump the depression of
taking his meds daily so he stopped and told his employees "see you if I see you."
Attitude is everything I've been taught in recovery; but then I'm so very grateful for
having "Weegie" in my own journey.  He fed me in more ways than one and most
of the time I only had to "pay attention".  I haven't missed him yet cause I'm a
spiritual world believer and practicer.  He and my former sponsor Charlie S are hanging
out, nodding and smiling.  

Loving them when there gone shouldn't be less that loving them went they're here.

There is one mexican style dish among many that I just love...Chorizo con huevos
with sweet corn soft tortillas.  Man that white man could do up a mound of that and
made his own sweet corn tortillas that I will miss.

Thanks for listening to just one tiny sliver of the memories I have from within this
fellowship.  

Jerry F