Monday, July 12, 2010

Back to Work

I have been gone for two weeks. I will be glad to go back today. I love to take vacation and I particularly love to return from vacation. My home looked like paradise when I opened the door and walked back in last week. I expect my return to my office will be much the same. I know there will be a pile of envelopes that have been slid under my door. I know there will be a stack of mail on my desk. I have been checking e-mail and voice mail all along, so there shouldn't be any surprises there. I am very happy to be heading back. I am very grateful to have a job I love.

Yesterday I went to my old homegroup for a Sunday morning meeting. It was just so nice. On the way in the door, a young woman reminded herself to me. I met her in San Antonio! She and my daughter had struck up a conversation there (at the convention) and this woman remembered that she had met my daughter on the bus (of all places!) when my daughter was in her first 30 days of sobriety. It was lovely to sit next to her at the meeting.

I got to see my friend R. get tears in his eyes as he made a public amends to M. as he told her he hadn't believed she was ever going to get sober. She was celebrating 3 years yesterday. Well, I got tears in my eyes as I recalled that about 20 years ago I didn't believe R. was ever going to get sober! He went in and out and in and out and in and out for about 6 years. It was painful to watch. The curve of M.'s decline was sharper and more frightening than most others I have seen (other than my daughter). Someone else at the meeting yesterday told her she had looked like she was 80 years old - and was putting on and dress and "going out". Yesterday, she was sitting next to her husband (one of my favorite people in the whole world), who will celebrate 3 years next week, talking about her children who have been returned to her custody, and she looks like herself again. The age of miracles is still with us.

After the meeting, a bunch of us went out for breakfast - we kept adding more and more tables to make our table bigger - it was huge! So many of us were at the International, we were comparing our photographs of San Antonio on our cell phones. It was so wonderful. It helps me to know that I don't have to just put that experience away in a box on a shelf somewhere. I have people to continue to share it with.

I will now get in the tub and get ready for a day! I need to put on work clothes for the first time in 2 weeks! YAY! I really love my life.

Thank you God.
(remind me to tell you about Pammie's tattoo - she wanted me to do that)

6 comments:

Mary LA said...

I have wanted to find out about Pammie's tattoo but was afraid her hand had dropped off. I am a little scared of tattoos. I am sure the wrist tattoo is beautiful and less painful by now.

Ouch with blessings.

Syd said...

What a happy and gratitude filled post. Enjoy going back to work. I still go in a few days a week but having a flexible schedule is just wonderful. I can't wait to hear about Pam's tattoo. I wish that she would write a post to update us on how she is doing and what is going on in her life. I miss her.

dAAve said...

Save this post and read it again whenever you think AA is going to the dogs.
Have fun at work today. And this week.

Linda Myers said...

What dAAve said!

I met two women at the convention who have emailed me since. Now, when I travel to North Carolina and Ontario, I have friends there. Not that everyone at a meeting in NC or Ontario wouldn't be a friend too, within 5 minutes.

I remember the moments of silence in the Alamodome. Also got to experience them in Toronto, Minneapolis and San Diego.

I remember also that "I am responsible".

How blessed we are!

Pammie said...

:-)

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

:) Wonderful photo and what a heartfelt post today!

I can't wait to hear about Pammie's tattoo!!!