DRINKING ALCOHOL TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLY
THEN IT TOOK AWAY THE SKY

Friday, February 19, 2010

HOME ONCE MORE




Just how do I sneak back in here to greet personally once again these Peeps who I have dearly missed for a month?  Jump right in, I suppose...


A lonely sound, shrillingly accurate, silenced the bedlam-like cacophony of the symphony orchestra.  An oboe player had stuck his face on the thin reed, and produced a perfect 440 "A".  The pitch is one to which orchestra players have for many years tuned their instruments, matching the oboe note.  The oboe is awarded this honor because it's tone can pierce even the most noisy of environs.


And it was in this setting in which I found myself all day Wednesday, and will be involved in over the course of the weekend.  I play a violin, and all my life I have listened thousands of times to the oboe player doling out his "a" to the string and wind orchestral musicians.


I have been retired from active orchestra playing for a couple years, but get called periodically to play (it's really work, do not know WHY they call it "play".)


Fraternizing with musicians--old friends and new--and the sheer enjoyment of being "back in the saddle" is one joy usually reserved for sports teams,  music makers of all types, some congregations, and recovery meetings.  I felt like saying to myself, "I am home again!"


I am!


It is the same I feel when I step into a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous--"I am home again...welcome home".  Most societies are built around a nucleus of helping others, sharing talents, goods, and services.  So when I say to myself in the morning AA meetings "Welcome Home", I refer to being at one with others, being of like mind.


It is a mostly comfortable feeling--true--and one which has changed my life totally.  It is the "trying to practice" a set of  principles, a way of life.  In music it is practicing my violin.  At work it is practicing diligence and faithfulness...and tolerance. It is not perfect.  It is practicing restraint of pen and tongue during every waking moment, at home and away. It is practicing the Golden rule. Again, it is never perfect--or even close!


And so this week we are performing Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet", and selected parts of Bernstein's "West Side Story".  And I LOVE it!


And I thank my God and AA for allowing me to stay alive...and to stay sober--for today. 


A Special note to those blogger-friends who have been so patient with me (on-and-off-and-on-and-off-again!).  I am so VERY grateful for your kindnesses and loving understanding and support, I am literally without words--another miracle?  I have missed this blogging "home-away-from-home" for far too long.


From now I intend to blog when inspiration or "my will" (Ha!) demands instead of committing to a daily excercise, which became a job for me.  And, being a recovering alcoholic, I have to be ME always, and no matter the topic, somehow it will relate to recovery of some sort, because that IS me.


Blogger-Peeps, I thank you all, and LOVE YOU ALL!

30 comments:

Angeles said...

Welcome Home Steve!!
It's nice to hear your violin again...
Besos:)

Kay said...

oh, the oboe...what memeories you bring.... have fun! :)

dAAve said...

One thing I learned when I finally got sober ...

never say never.

Manon said...

Welcome back, my friend! Blog when you feel it. I had to learn that too. Everyday can be overwhelming..... heck twice a week is sometimes too much for me!!

Glad you're here again!!

Syd said...

I thought that you would be back once The Second Road unfortunately had to cease operations. Welcome back to the blogosphere.

Christine Macdonald said...

Nice to see you again. We missed you. xo

clean and crazy said...

welcome back!! it is good to be home

Anonymous said...

STEVE IS BACK!

I am very glad to hear from you!

Secretia

Dulçe ♥ said...

Oh My dear Steveroni!!!

I am so happy you are back and sound and safe and 'at home'. Back to playing... WORKING!
I love to hear your music... how I'd love to see you playing...It must feel great to you to do your real job again...
Oh you always write such big comments and I don't know what else to say... must be the joy to see you are here
again...

Thanks for everything my friend
xoxoxo

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

All I can say is ... quietly praying really DOES work! :)

Love you, and glad you're back!

Unknown said...

Welcome home...you were missed and I am so thrilled to be reading one of your blogposts!!!
much love
gabi

Unknown said...

::doing the Snoopy happy-dance::

Welcome back!!! Missed ya. Will be happy to see you whenever you have time.

Namaste

Anonymous said...

You have to express more your opinion to attract more readers, because just a video or plain text without any personal approach is not that valuable. But it is just form my point of view

The Turning Point said...

Great to have you back, actually you've been in my thoughts and I kept checking in.

For us that love our art it is "play", it's the joy and or on a common meaning "something we can enjoy, don't have to do.

Welcome back into my life.

Jim

Nevine Sultan said...

Now that's a happy compromise for all of us! We can do a bit at a time, whenever you feel inspired... that's just fine by me. Can you believe my heart jumped a little when I saw the link for your blog up there at the top again? I said, "Really? No way!" But yes way! You've been just too sorely missed. So, I'm sure happy to see you back, even if it's not daily... seeing a little steveroni is better than seeing no steveroni at all. Oh, btw, I love Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet". Love it to bits! And I love you too, Steve!

Nevine

Carol said...

So glad that you are well. I have been blogging less often and am still surprised at the gentle reassurances of my 'followers', we are not dull fellows but at our best, we are quite kind.

Peace

Anonymous said...

Steve-O! Thank gOd you are back. You were dearly missed.

S. Susan Deborah said...

Steve:

How happy to welcome you back to the Circle.

The little violin was dearly missed.

Happy happy tunes and words.

Joy and love always,
Susan

Enchanted Oak said...

I'm just a friend on the periphery of your life, but you are front and center on my blogroll, so I guess that entitles me to own a piece of you (I hope it's the violin-playing part). Hooray, you're back! Missed you, oodles.

Sylvia said...

Now I stay silent. I always found the violin something really especial, and I always wanted to learn how to play it. Nothing makes me silent like a violin.

Fireblossom said...

Welcome back, Steve.

Christina said...

Joy Joy Joy! My Steve-eroni is back!

Oh Happy Day! I am so glad you're home. Jackson had his tuba audition yesterday at University of Miami yesterday, it was joyous! Tomorrow we head to Tampa to audition for Univ of South Florida. We will pass thru Naples and blow a kiss to you and Prayer Girl from I-75!!

Welcome again and again!!

Love,
Christina

Scott M. Frey said...

welcome home, my friend :-) ahhh the oboe... I recall taking a class in oboe and basson playing, having to make reeds. My basson reed actually played, my oboe reed well... not so much lol.

I am glad you got to "play" in the orchestra again. There's nothing in the world quite like playing in an orchestra.

Banana Girl said...

Moderation in all things, as Grandma used to intone. I am so happy you are back among us. I almost sent you an e-mail last Friday to tell you that our Gaybe won his first major at the Denver show on Thurs. You are the first person on these pages to know...saved it for you! God bless and keep.....oh and PG too! J

Banana Girl said...

and I don't know why I am now OWH instead of BANANA GIRL! I will try to correct it....J.

Margie said...

A warm welcome back to you Steve!
Be well and stay in good spirits!

Margie :)

Just Be Real said...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Stevie So Glad of your return!!!!!

Blessings to you dear one!

Annsterw said...

Welcome Back - you were missed!

Sandra Wilkes said...

Well, Hey you!!! Do your own thing and share with us whenever the Spirit moves you. I so totally get that.

Sandra Wilkes said...

Well, Hey you!!! Do your own thing and share with us whenever the Spirit moves you. I so totally get that.