Emergency Room

I spent yesterday afternoon and evening at a local emergency room. I will start by saying - everything is OK, thank God. My youngest granddaughter became very ill and my daughter took her to the ER. She had a high fever among other things and they thought she might have meningitis. They did a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to test the spinal fluid, and thankfully, that was fine. Little Madeline started perking up after IV fluids, but had an adverse drug reaction to the IV antibiotic... that was scary. She went back home last night and I will call in a bit to see how she is this morning.

The one shining moment in this (I always look for a shining moment, it must be from all the "mind-numbing" years in AA), was to watch my two daughters minister to the baby. I stood back and watched as they held her while some pretty gruesome things were being done. It was a wonderful moment - to realize that I am no longer "the one." I can take a back seat to these wonderful women, my daughters. It was not only a feeling of passing the baton, but also a tremendous swelling of love and pride in my daughters. They are both good women, no matter what their disposition may be.

I also have to say that I tried to engage this person who is harrassing all of us. I thought there were two people, but it turns out he is but one very disturbed individual. It was probably a mistake to try to enter a dialog with him. I had 6 very disturbing e-mails from him this morning. If it continues, I will report it as spam. I feel bad about the hurt and pain that must be behind that kind of vitriol.

We are supposed to have record-breaking high temperatures today. I am going to endeavor to get to work early and leave early to run in the afternoon sunshine before the 5:30 meeting. I am so grateful to be alive and sober today. I usually enjoy spring, but after the winter we have just experienced, I feel like the world is coming back to life! It is wonderful!

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you - until then." Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164