Good night Alias...prayers for you and yours and the kids at the gas station and the weaver. Hope the weaver made it home and all those around it. GNght.
On Tuesday one of us not in recovery and into continued alcohol participation took the lives of two our our island citizens...valued family members of a close knit community...seriously into having a life better than they had before and he injured half a dozen more 3 still in the hospital while he is out on bail...can still buy booze without boundary and was driving without a license or insurance. He had prior other arrest alcohol involved...after all doesn't it affect ever nook and cranny of our lives?,...and refused to put a breathalyzer in his car not showing up in court to confirm compliance with that demand.
Alcohol(ism) is cunning, powerful and baffling and so is the unwillingness to deal honestly and fairly with it. I've had a legislative proposal in, under, around and above the house and senate looking for approval rather than patronization. The last patronizer and legislator who promised he would get it done also told me that he had 39 years sobriety in our program before I broke my own anonymity.
I noticed today that New York City is banning higly sugared drinks...that was the banner just above the headline on how badly the family is feeling and doing as a result of the multiple felony DUI event that happend Tuesday. Baffling. "Highly sugared drinks...under the influence in a much different way huh? I was at an event Wednesday night just out of town where there were approximately 1500 people in one small area and the majority of them were stoned and/or blitzed. It was my old element emphasis on "old" I wanted to leave early but was missing the keys to my truck and there were no good choices on asking any one for a ride back into the city. Wasn't sure I would have made it. HP provided majorily in a magical way for the person who gave me the ride and myself. I use to live in that atmosphere...it was so strange to be in it without a glass or can or bottle of my own. Actually I was more of a loner drinker...in the corner...in the dark...wouldn't have worked there except outside on the lava fields. Looking back some I come to understand that my 9th stepping is taking shape...10 step is in order...11 step is humming and the tank is full...and the 12th step turned out to be what Wednesday night was all about...HP had a plan.
I did a 12th tonight with a "Letter to the Editor" regarding carrying the message...while keeping our anonymity of course. Thank you all for your support and love. ((((hugs))))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Saturday 15th of September 2012 01:21:17 AM
So I was headed home from work tonight, just go home actually, and I stopped by the gas station. There were a few kids hanging out on the side of the building, skateboarding. One kid I know was 12 years old, now its 12:30 at night!! My thoughts were wondering if the parents were passed out somewhere and didn't even know there kids were out so late, or if they even cared. There were at least 5 kids that I saw. This was like a reminder of the kind of parent I don't want to be. I notice stuff more these past (almost) two weeks. I guess I notice more because I'm not drunk. I felt renewed in my path to sobriety seeing these kids out and thinking of what their parents were doing. After I left I drove the last mile or so home behind a car that was all over the road and again thought, that used to be me. I am so thankful that its not. Have a good night everyone!!
It's truly amazing how those of us in the AA program become more 'responsible human beings' once we're sober for a while ... and I just wanted to say I agree that I, too, see things in a totally different light now ... i.e. I don't curse the birds in the mornings for singing so loud during my hang over, but now I can just sit back with my coffee and enjoy their music ... and I don't panic anymore when a cop car pulls in behind me ... and when I see a guy with handcuffs on, getting into the back of a squad car, I think, there but for the grace of God and AA, go I ...
Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I guess this falls under the category of: 'Things we notice now that we're sober'. It's truly amazing, isn't it? Watching the world unravel around us, I mean. When I was still drinking; incidents like this one wouldn't even have fazed me. All I cared about at the time was my next drink, not what others did this late at night. I'm glad that's not me anymore. I just hope that kid makes it home safe. Thanks again for the post, it was certainly an eye opener.
Hey Aliasisme - you're going to hear a lot of different versions of "how to do it" in AA. No ONE of us is AA. I like to believe we are all doing the best we know how. Some of us still have a lot of issues - I know I am working on lots of them. In time you will feel in your heart, and trust in your gut where God is leading you... and you will be able to tune in to some people, and tune some others out... finding what you need... leaving the rest for someone else to need. All of us are right where we are suppose to be... we can find faith in that through working this program.
I've been thinking about you... and hoping things are going well for you : ) Keep posting - it helps me!
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
I will tasha. Thank you for thinking of me. I read a lot of your posts and it really helps me. I feel like I can relate to everything your saying and I am glad to be here among the boards and in some cases, among friends. Today is day 17 for me and I am feeling better. Still have a lot of issues to work out but I feel/ I know its possible.
17 days is absolutely great Alias ... ... ... keep hanging in there, we promise, it DOES get better ... sometimes we don't see it, but it does ... don't drink and study the 2 books I mentioned above ... go to meetings when you can ...
Love ya and God Bless, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
