Yup, there's nothing like a good snowstorm! I love them:) The city shuts down for a bit, and only a few brave souls venture out of the cozy comfort of their homes. Im amongst those brave ( or stupid) souls. There's a great satisfaction to being one of a few out there battling the elements, it's a very solitary feeling- like the city is yours. All that untouched still pure white snow is both formidable and beautiful. It's rather peaceful, actually. I think of how many times throughout my life I took the opportunity to battle these elements with a bar or liquor store as the destination. I loved it...the warm embrace of a candlelit pub and a few single malts (ok, it was more than a few lol). Id feel that instant warmth from the other patrons, the welcome from the bartender, and of course the burn of the scotch that "warms" like no other. As you can see, I was romancing the drink. Storms are definitely a trigger for me, and for many others I found at the meeting I went to. I found REAL warmth and welcome there though, not the "misery loves company" I was seeking as a drinker. I had to work last night, one of only a few staff members that could make it in due to a driving ban throughout the city. I'm not gonna lie -I was a bit bitter about having to walk the 2 miles each way. I had worked myself into a rage about it, actually. I then reminded myself that I had walked almost equal distance countless times to get drunk in equally unpleasant weather. The irony of this is not lost on me, as I work in a bar-so the destination is still the same-but not at all. Instead of being the idiot alcoholic stumbling into snowbanks and dodging plows in pursuit of oblivion, I was the one happily taking their money. NOW I know why those bartenders were so happy to see me! Hahaha- I made a killing last night! I couldn't help but notice in my 2MILE (each way- yes, I'm fishing for sympathy) that the only businesses open were liquor stores and bars. As a drinker I'd think "f ya! Why would anything else be open??"..as a sober person, I was thinking "f ya!! I just made 300$ off you suckers!!" all in all it's a great day to be sober. That sad little girl roaming the streets feeling lost til I saw the light of an open bar is lost in the past. For that, I am grateful:)
Our whole attitude is the 'spirit' we embrace at any given moment in time ... I am glad to see that you could see the positive position of the situation you were put in ... Especially to see this as a 'blessing' rather than a curse ...
Today, you are the perfect example of part of the 'Promises' ... you know, where it says: 'and our whole attitude and outlook on life will change' ... Great job of thinking it through ... seeing the benefits rather than the liabilities ... Always 'embrace' the power of your 'higher power' in these times ... be filled with His/Her Spirit and live good ... ... ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Nowhere in my post did I say or imply that everyone that drinks is an alcoholic. Why are you always giving me a hard time, Tomas? Just curious. If I believed that everyone that drank was an alcoholic, I certainly wouldn't be insensitive enough to revel in making a living off of it or make lightly of that fact. I also did highlight that I was grateful. That was the point of the post.
Hey Col, ... Don't pay any attention to Tomas' comments ... He's simply showing you that you don't have to be alcoholic to be an ASS ... that you can do that even when you're sober if one chooses to ...
You turned a dreadful event into a positive one and chose to see the benefits of being sober rather than wallow in self pity and get drunk over it ... YOU DID GREAT Col ... you have reason to be feeling good about yourself ... Don't let an old fart take that away from you ... (I know, this is all coming from another old fart ... LMAO ... see???, we're not all the same ... but we ARE all in recovery ... so we should use the tolerance we learn of, from time to time ...)
I Love Ya, and I think you done did good!!!!! Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
WE always remember that although we are all ill, some are sicker than others!!! Col I'm sure I went up all the hills you did in that little town and can identify with you as the sad little boy always looking for the "next one" Truly grateful Im on a new and better journey,one day at a time..
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
Funny thing, I was up late Friday night watching CNN and they where showing the big snowball fight in the streets of Boston after the bars let out :) and they where talking about the driving ban.
Great example of suiting up /showing up and good things happen!
I was never one to stay home in snow or bad weather either......Land of the free and home of the brave.
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Instead of being the idiot alcoholic stumbling into snowbanks and dodging plows in pursuit of oblivion, I was the one happily taking their money. NOW I know why those bartenders were so happy to see me! Hahaha- I made a killing last night! I couldn't help but notice in my 2MILE (each way- yes, I'm fishing for sympathy) that the only businesses open were liquor stores and bars. As a drinker I'd think "f ya! Why would anything else be open??"..as a sober person, I was thinking "f ya!! I just made 300$ off you suckers!!" all in all it's a great day to be sober. That sad little girl roaming the streets feeling lost til I saw the light of an open bar is lost in the past. For that, I am grateful:)
A lot of people not alcoholics find warmth and good cheer in bars and taverins particularly when a city is shut down by snow....that's my message..not ot judge others for their actions.. Wish all good cheer but don't pick up a drink..as a recovering alcoholic
Ok.. I see your point, Tomas. I was not intending to articulate that I was passing judgement on others. Perhaps the words that I chose were wrong in conveying what I was attempting to say. It was actually a difficult day for me, and I was trying to make the best of it for me- a newly sober person who does not visit this site to have my words picked apart and be told in prior posts that I'm a failure. I apologize if this post offended anyone or if I gave the impression that I was passing judgement on others.
Oh! Thank you so much for your wonderful wonderful wonderful story!!! What a great way to begin my day!!!! (In Denver, we are just parched for snow...the weatherman teases us with promises of snow...it NEVER comes :( Please send snow!!! )
I lived in Denver '71 to '75 Lady Eli ... ... ... ... Be Careful What you wish for ... LOL ... Came out of the barracks one time and looked for my little Fiat Spider(car) ... it was no where in sight, it was covered in a snow drift ... LOL
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
