Sunday, April 22, 2012

Back home

I am back at home port. It was a wet ride back, with the worse part being the big seas once I got into the harbor. It feels good to be stopped once again, after the nine hour trip home.

The speakers yesterday were awesome. The morning Al-Anon speaker had a daughter affected by alcoholism. It was a moving story of how she learned to not enable and set clear boundaries with her daughter. It's clear that some Al-Anon's cannot stay away from alcoholics because this lady married four of them. The only non-alcoholic she married was too boring so she divorced him too!

Her daughter was the afternoon speaker. It was interesting to hear the mother/daughter story. Both are close and grateful for the recovery they found.

The evening speaker was Danny B. from Spring, TX. I imagine that Pam and Dave know of him. He had quite a story about being in mental institutions, prisons, gangs, and Mexican jails. He shared about turning himself in for robbing a bank as an amends. But he was set free because the police didn't believe the real criminal would turn himself in. I still can't figure out whether he really robbed the bank!

I don't think there was a dry eye in the room when he shared about making an amends to his father who was dying. I know that I was thinking about my own father and wishing that I had the opportunity to tell him how much I loved him before he died. It is one of my great regrets.

But all is okay right now. I had a great time, got to know a great bunch of alcoholics, made some new friends, and learned more lessons in my recovery.

13 comments:

  1. Good to know you're back safe and made friends, learned more about illness and recovery.

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  2. My husband's grandmother married three alcoholics. In her case, I almost wonder if there were any sober men around. When I've been out to visit her, it seems like all everyone does is drink. Especially the men, and starting early in the day.

    Then again, you're right that some people go looking for drama in their lives & feel bereft being with a nice, normal person.

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  3. I'm glad my son found fellow addicts who "have quite a story to tell" just like him. It makes a difference to hear it from your own.

    That goes for the Alanon story also. There is comfort and healing in hearing alike stories.

    It sounds fun and interesting,thanks for sharing with us!

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  4. Sounds like a good time. I hope to have the opportunity to attend the fall study again :) I do love it.

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  5. Glad you're home and safe, Syd, with a pocket-full of new memories, stories, friends.

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  6. i feel you on those regrets...and was processing them a bit myself yesterday...welcome home man...

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  7. Your post today was timely. My 21 year old addict daughter showed up cryin on our door steps Friday night after leaving a treatment center on Tuesday morning. She caught us offguard. She is working with our health insurance to find a different treatment center in network. I told her that the next time she shows up on our doorstep I will take her to the nearest shelter because her Dad & I need to get off the roller coaster of her use. I am hoping that this is the start of her recovery but we will see.

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  8. I'm glad you're home safe and sound. Did you get any of the thunder and lightening that we got here?
    Also, my middle son is now dating an alcoholic and has been attending Al-anon. He loves it and I will give him your blog site.

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  9. It is a sad thing to have regrets like those. I try to say I love you to all my people every time I speak with them. It's so hard, I know. I believe they know of our love, even when it goes unspoken.

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  10. Syd,

    Thanks for your post. It's amazing how we easy it is, being addicted to drama. Through Al-Anon Family Groups I discovered that boring is good.

    If I want drama, I'll watch a movie at the local theater. That way, I can leave it there when I head back home.

    Has your marina calmed down, after all the racing?

    Wishing you a great week!

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  11. That sounds like an amazingly peaceful and empowering trip, all at the same time. Did I not catch why C didn't go with you? Glad you are back safe...

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  12. Glad you made it home safe! Sounds like it was a great roundup.

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  13. its always so kool hitting meetings "in foreign lands" and meeting news recovery people...

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