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

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

MY EYES AND I


MY EYES AND I

"Steve, your eyes are too close."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said--your eyes are too close.  Check 'em out."

So, the next morning I studied myself, my face, in the bathroom mirror.  Ugh! But, even so (with the "Ugh!") I could not see a thing wrong with my eyes. At the next meeting I met an old-timer, and there I got the answer to my question.  He said, "Your I's are too close. When you speak, it is always 'I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I".......








 HIS SOBRIETY DATE APRIL 26, 2010
AS TOLD BY I, I, I, I, I

Met a fellow tonight who had been sober in AA for six years--then six years ago he had one--just ONE!--"fancy" drink, a Mai-Tai.  Well you pretty well know the story, he's been mostly a drunk ever since, these past six years.  His first meeting back into AA was this evening.  And I became the fortunate one to have a coffee with him after the meeting.

A nice telephone conversation with him just ended. I was filled in on his updated life, a nearly verbatim story of so many;  out of work--no paycheck for 9 months, living with parents (he's nearly 50), wife, also an untreated alcoholic, living in a Colorado city (with HER parents), threw him out.  They had been drinking buddies ever since those six long years ago in another state.

Now in Florida, he owns--as of today-- a Big Book, and a 12X12 (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions).  Do you know?  He seemed SO happy to get those books back into his hands. I have given lots of books away, and usually I get the impression that the recipient thinks he is doing ME a favor by accepting a book...how "positive" is that?  But THIS guy wanted a book so bad...and no money (he had put his "last dollar" into the basket), he expressed real gratitude.

I  almost said to him not to put a dollar into the basket, but thought to myself, "This helped me to make my commitment to staying sober some years ago...when I was expected to 'pay my way', even when broke.  It is almost like showing respect for a new person to allow him to pay for his coffee, and Big Book".

And tonight he told me he read "The Doctor's Opinion" for the first time. When he chooses a sponsor, he will be still a friend to me--I can "feel" it.  In a room of more than 100 Peeps, he picked me to talk with. What an honor, that God directed him my way. 


In SO many words, and with my "I's" very close together...I'm just sayin'

--steveroni



 Picture: Deviant Art--Too_Close_by_JaBoy3000

13 comments:

Syd said...

I hope that he finds a way to stay sober and understands that the I's don't have it but He does.

clean and crazy said...

it is awesome to connect. great post thanks for sharing this with us

Sam Liu said...

"Your I's are too close" - love that. Great post, it's great that you're helping someone through their problems :)

Brian Miller said...

smiles...cool tale...i will have to use the "i's" line.

i dunno, i lived in florida for 3 years but that was only 10 years back. small word so you never know...

Jess Mistress of Mischief said...

LOL I love this story, it inspires!

drybottomgirl said...

I think we all have our "I's" too close at times. How lucky for this man to have been able to talk to you. One of your greatest attributes is your passion and enthusiasm for this program. You know it works, you know it transforms lives, and it's so awesome when someone "wants" it so badly. It makes all the difference!

Andrew said...

We do know our own kind.

I'm glad you connected with this man. I'm sure the relationship will be positive for both of you.

Manon said...

OMG.... you here than you leave and then you come back. Dude.... stick around this time.....lol! I was on vacation and Ces let me know you'd made your way back. Too many friends to just leave Blogland!!

Heather's Mom said...

Praise God, thanks for sharing this very special meeting with us :)
God bless.

Laura said...

I am so glad you found my blog and now I have found yours...what a treasure...pain is pain, suffering is suffering and compassion for one another and toward ourselves is the key to peace. What a lucky man to have found you at that meeting.

gentle steps,
Laura

Anonymous said...

Really like that about the I's. May His will,not mine, be done. Thanks for the reminder!

JStar said...

God put yall together for a reason..Be his inspiration!

Kate said...

I love it when you just *know* that someone fits in with your life.