November 6

Hard to believe that Trump could get re-elected, but there it is. I'm not much for politics so I don't have any windy arguments on whether or not that was a wise move on anyone's part. It is what it is. I'm Canadian so it's not my circus and not my monkeys.

I'm celebrating a sobriety milestone this month. 27 years. There are a few others celebrating that night and because I will be the eldest, I get to select the speaker. I already have someone in mind, someone with over a decade himself and someone with a good story. I sent him a message so we'll see how he responds.

I think we're going to al-anon tonight. Usually, I do one alanon meeting per week, but since I was chosen to be an alanon speaker at the midwinter roundup, I thought I should let some of the members in this district at least know who I am.

I had been making these posts at night so I could talk about how my day went, but it was slipping my mind, so I thought I'd switch things up and post in the daylight hours. Now, I have to talk about what I plan to do as opposed to what I have already done. We'll see how that goes. 

November 5 Late Again

This entry is late, again. Maybe posting late at night isn't a good idea. Maybe early in the morning would be better. I'll try that tomorrow and see how that goes. Today was just ordinary. Nancy had an outing with some of her friends, the proverbial Group of Dames. I was baking cookies for a meeting I was going to tonight, so I made sure she got a few to take with her. I also made a pot of stew today and some tea biscuits to go with that.

I'm increasingly aware that I make a lot of typos. I was always such a good typist, even with one hand. Sometimes I'm comfortable with blaming it on the letters on the keyboard sticking, but other times I notice blatantly dyslexic errors. Age? Well, I am getting up there. It's difficult when you write to have to keep going back and correcting yourself. Oh well. 

November 4/24

I was supposed to post a blog entry last night but as Barliman Butterbur from Lord of the Rings used to say, One thing drives out another. We had a good day, a productive day. We started off by going to church, something we haven't done for decades. The building didn't fall down. The service was actually interesting and on a good theme. The importance of community within your community and recognizing that your neighbours may be good people also. We enjoyed the reverend's talk.

There was also some talk about outreach services the church would like to do and a few of them are similar to what my wife and I already do so a light bulb came on and gave me an idea or two. I always say that coincidence is how God protects his anonymity.

Later in the day, we went to a committee meeting and I let myself get talked into volunteering to be a guest speaker at the welcome meeting of the event. That will go alright bcause I am no stranger to public speaking. I'll just tell them the same story I always tell, except from a different perspective. It isn't until February so I'm going to forget about it for a bit.

November Again

It's been a while since I've posted something new here. I could say I've been busy and that could be true. I suppose one excuse is as good as the next. I find myself saying that to people I sponsor when they decide they want to go back out and do some research into the hypothesis that maybe they aren't really alcoholics. They often start their spiel with something in code red as we call it. They say things like, that guy really pissed me off, or it's really hard to find a parking spot around here I don't know why I come to this meeting anyway. And that's when I say one excuse is as good as the next. Give me a call when you get out of detox. I'll still be here.

I spoke today at a meeting downtown. Friend of mine had asked me to do that a  while ago and I have learned that when someone in the fellowship asks me to do something and I am able to do it, then my answer is almost always yes. I think it went well. I might even have been able to help someone get through another day and at the end of the day that's really all that matters.

This will be my daily writing. I'm supposed to write something each day and although this is not a well-crafted haiku or a gripping piece of short fiction, it is writing. Right. So I write.

Seven Years Ago

Seven Years ago.........

On Friday May 13, 2016, I received a message on social media from the local Member of Parliament. He was in town and would be presenting certificates to community leaders. He wanted to know if Nancy and I were available to come over and get one. Sure, I replied. I'll bring a cheesecake. I know he likes my cheesecake. That would be super, he replied.

I sent Nancy a text and let her know not to make any plans. She was excited. She didn't have a thing to wear, would need to have her hair done, etc. All very typical. Then, I start to wonder if I should let the board of directors know. After all, most of the community work we do is with the Society. I sent them a message suggesting that they attend if they were able to.

We get to the church where the “event” was being held. I'm all decked out in my fedora and a red tie (because he's a Liberal and red would show how supportive I was), I got my cheesecake with me. I'm going over a little speech in my head and mentally envisioning where I will hang the plaque, the man cave is getting a bit crowded with all these accolades. There's a lady standing at the door to direct us in, she looks familiar but I can't place her. When I enter the room, I see a small crowd of people standing at the far end of the room. Is that my brother? Why is he here? And isn't that my.....

Everybody yells SURPRISE!!!!! And then I clue in. My birthday is on the 20th. My 60th birthday.

Two months previous, I had gone to Tim Horton's in Waverley to be presented with a check from the current councilor. Our MLA had also been there and we exchanged a bit of small talk. After I left, the two of them were talking. I had mentioned on social media that my 60th birthday was in a few months and they thought it would be nice to throw me a party.

They got together with my wife and began to make plans. They were very thorough and very secretive about it. I never even saw it coming. I hadn't needed to tell Nancy about this. She already knew. I hadn't needed to tell the board of directors. They already knew. Most of my family was there, plus a few very dear friends. The cake was in a knitting theme with balls of frosting intricately designed to look like balls of yarn.

I suppose I looked quite a sight, standing there holding a cheesecake I had brought to my own birthday party, with a look on my face that seemed to say What? I don't get a certificate?

I did actually receive two certificates. One was a congratulations from our MP on receiving the Provincial Award and the other one was another special resolution that had been passed at the NS House of Assembly to recognize my 60th birthday, because of the work I do in my community.

Often, I think back to that frosty morning when I crawled out of my sleeping bag under the bridge, checking for signs of frostbite. I possessed only the clothes I wore, a walkman with no batteries, a battered copy of a book about recovery, and a shred of hope that I could overcome the situation I was in.

This morning, when I woke up, I looked around me at all the things I knew I could never have. Wife, family, grandchildren, a job to go to, a house to live in, a lawn to mow, a driveway to shovel, all the things that normal people have. I closed my eyes, said a little prayer, and then I said thanks.

Know what I mean. Jellybean.