I'm really glad that it's Friday. The weather is perfect to watch the sailboats on the harbor. It's race week in this old city, and there are a lot of people who have come from out of town to sail. A brisk northeast wind is blowing so it should make for a fast course.
I had a good meeting with a sponsee last night. He is making great progress and is so willing to do the work. Another sponsee is stuck in denial. He spends much of his time checking on the phone records of his wife, checking her mileage and generally obsessing over whether she is using or not. She is his Higher Power. I can explain being powerless and living an unmanageable life until I'm blue in the face with this guy. Right now, he's not hearing what I'm saying.
My old dog came home from a few days at the vet's office. She is 14 1/2 and has lived a good long life. But her kidneys are starting to fail. So we are making her comfortable and letting her live out her remaining days as easily as possible. She has been my heart dog so her decline is hard to watch.
This afternoon I'm going to head to an AA roundup located on one of the islands south of here. I went to this roundup a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. Tonight will be a cookout followed by an AA speaker. The speakers come in from around the country and are quite good. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and learning more.
Today I'm grateful for:
- White sails on blue water that sparkles like diamonds
- Having had my good dog friend for so many years.
- An opportunity to hear a good speaker this evening who will tell his story
- Sponsees who are willing and ready to do the deal with this program of recovery
- Sponsees who remind me how powerless I am over others
- A wife who is sober and seems happy with her life, her gardens, her home, and her mate.
Ohhh Syd, my heart goes out to you, I got a piccy of Miss Boley, she is 8 now and one day she will be gone.
ReplyDeleteDogs have such short lives its not fair, they should have double there lifespan and they are such lovely creatures.
Thanks for getting me back out of the dark, I just decided that I was gonna do a post last night when I was trying to get to sleep, one I posted I fell soundly off to sleep.
A nice collection of thoughts today. I would say that I feel sorry for your 2nd sponsee that you mention, but he is the one who chooses to make his life miserable. I hope he can learn to make better choices.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Roundup.
your last 2 words in your gratitude list, how very sweet!!! oh and it's sad to see a faithful pet getting old. it can break the heart... but, i'm glad it's friday too. let's have a good weekend, you on your diamond encrusted waters, me in the lovely indian summers days we are having...
ReplyDeleteoh, michael's posted...
I'm glad the dog can live out his last days at home..people should be able to do that too.
ReplyDeleteYour week end sounds good. Enjoy.
I hope your old dog goes as peacefully as she can when her time comes. It is sad that dogs have such short life spans. Our oldest will be 10 this year and I realize her life is more than half over. Sounds like you have a great weekend planned, have fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet face she has. Our companions indeed have lives too short. Thank you for taking such good care of her--so many do not get the lives they deserve. Such unconditional love is hard to find.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me smile :)
ReplyDeleteI watched "Marley and Me" when our Puddles crossed Rainbow Bridge 6 weeks ago. I will watch it again when your furbaby crosses. It is the perfect movie to blubber to and laugh at the memories. I have 5 other dogs and prefer them over most non-program people. I'm working on that...
ReplyDeleteNamaste and a big ole hug and sloppy kiss for furbaby..
Two things stand out here. First I know that heartbreak of watching your old friend suffer. I lost my dog almost two years ago to cancer and diabetes. The second comment I have is about your second sponsee. It's such a hard way to live - trying to control someone else. Hopefully he stops and listens soon. Sounds like a nice weekend in your town.
ReplyDeleteSyd,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your dog. I just went through a bout of sickness with my dog, and she lost a lot of weight and almost died. I didn't even sleep good while she was ill, I was so worried.
Bless you. I'm sure you gave your dog a wonderful life.
Enjoy your weekend.
...sponsees and dogs (& spouses too) - life would be less without them...
ReplyDeleteI hope you have/had a lovely retreat weekend...
Blessings and aloha
thank you Syd, I Love this Post. how amazing you are with your share. Have a blessed weekend and enjoy your peace of the world.
ReplyDeleteYour heart dog looks a lot like my son's baby girl, who is 12 years old and has good days and bad. She always seems to have good days when she is with my boy.
ReplyDeleteEspecially your 'heart dog', so sorry. Sort of like watching a sponsor drift away...peacefully.
ReplyDeleteSyd having watched a few dogs pass on in my arms, my hear tis with you. You are doing the best thing you can do, I like to think of it as finally giving back to them after so many years of them giving to us...big hugs my friend.
ReplyDeletePets become so much a part of our lives. It is very hard to lose one. I think when I lost my last dog, probably the 7th in my lifetime, it was my last.
ReplyDeleteUnless someday in the future I change my mind. I adore dogs.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Prayer Girl
enjoy the nice weather.
ReplyDeleteso sorry to hear about your dog. :(
I remember when you went to that roundup a few years back...and you came back and posted about all of the excitement of this program...wow, time flies and life is good.
ReplyDeleteYour "heart dog"...what a lovely way to put it....I have one too.
I undertand your sponsee's fears.
ReplyDeleteI hope he can detach soon.That must be eating him up inside.
As for you Mr.Syd..Love your words and your list..and that pooch too ;)
Happy sailings and round up'ing this weekend..xo
you and your doggie are fortunate to have each other. Love your gratitide list, Happy Weekend to you!
ReplyDeleteWow. Sounds like your dog's been there for you through a lot. It also sounds like you've given her a great life. I lost my newfie last October at 15. Its never easy. Hugs for both you and your dog.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your dog. I loved your last comment, I could feel a lot of warmth in it. Thanks for the congratulations.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sweet-faced dog - I have been through the same kind of loss and it is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteoh I can tell by that sweet face - what a wonderful puppy dog that is. How fortunate that you have gotten to experiecne this special love.
ReplyDeleteHe looks very huggable