THEY GOT MARRIED

THE WEDDING

This post is to tell a little about a wedding on the beach at Naples-on-the-Gulf (of Mexico) this past Saturday. About 250 people I estimated were attending, many of us alcoholics (I like the word "ex-drunks").  Polly, maker of fabulous cookies for the Thursday night "cookie meeting" and her Fiancee John (also one of "us") became man and wife

Each family, Polly's and John's were 30-40 in number were mostly from other states, some traveled from Alaska.  So families counted for 70-80 witnesses.  I have played (violin) at hundreds of weddings, and never have I seen one so lavishly simple, so love-loaded, so mirthfully serious, so crazily sober...and I got to be a part of all this.  Whether AA, Alanon, or blood relatives joining at this celebration, it was indeed one huge, happy family affair.

When I asked Polly what kind of music she would like, her answer, "Steve, I'm putting you 'in charge' of the music, that is your job, OK?" was the answer every musician longs to hear--for weddings.

My sponsor and his sponsor were there, as well as Prayer Girl and her daughter--who is one of Polly's sponsees.  Except for the groom and bride's extended families, the rest of us in the crowd have been "friends" in the programs for years.

Imagine the gratitude and love spread around the park and the beach that morning and later at the home of the groom's sponsor; horseshoes, and lots of stuff, and food catered by a homeless shelter's popular and GoooooD! catering service.

This past Saturday morning and afternoon will be joyfully relived again and again in the fondest memories of all us happy participants.

Thank you again, Dear God, for these Your gifts.

Photo: DeviantArt.wedding_by_photolitherland.jpg

 

DAY ONE

First day of trip I enjoyed a private guided tour of a
museum of statue and art. A whole estate literally
LITTERED with wonderful works of art
in every medium--in Orlando FL

A "GOD" DAY

Took it easy first day out, only traveled about 250 miles. And everything got wet except my scooter and me. How can this be happening? Good planning--I just travel between the drops. (That came from a boy, age 8.)

My bike is carrying weight of 450 pounds (204 kgs) including me, and so that brings (bike weighs 550 lbs.) total weight to a half ton (455 kgs).

One scooter-rider (me), hiding under a bridge, in a downpour on a short span of I-4 near Orlando, FL, was feeling sort of lonely around noon today.

Next bridge where I sought shelter, two more riders joined in to make a party (real bikers!), and under the bridge after that (four miles down the road)...three became five. The last bridge we sheltered under, there were SIX of us, all asking things like "Where you from?" What do you do?" "Got a cigarette?" you know--real GUY stuff! --grin!

Really impressive to me was how all six of us who are so different in outward lives and appearances, are yet so much alike, so much the same in our basic needs, desires, wishes, habits, feelings, sorrows, gladness, pain and happiness. We just want freedom and peace, and love. Actually, that's what we DID talk about. Imagine!

God is good to me on this trip. Instead of cursing the biting rain-pellets, I got to praise God, by joining with his creatures in fun and fellowship, and sharing of the water bottle. Water, peeps! WATER, Okay?

I am thoroughly and kingly ensconced in the home of an Alanon blogger 'friend' in Orlando Florida on this, my first night out. I've even been invited by her and two roommates to have dinner "out" at 9 PM. And I shall BE there!

And I'm sitting on my wonderfully soft--even if strange--bed while writing this blog. It is just SUCH a warm feeling for me, a stranger, to be accepted into someone's home, our only mutual credentials being an honest look-in-the-eye between two peeps. Interesting how that can be, yes? I'm telling you, my peeps, God is with us today, and may God be with us ALL, and keep us from harming ourselves--or anyone ELSE! Ya HEAH?

Peace and Love,
from Steve

ONE BEAUTIFUL DAY

A friend gave me a foot-long cutting from an Angel Trumpet tree. All I did was stick it in the ground and water it, and talk to it. The odor it emits at night is SO like Jasmine, even more close to honeysuckle. and it covers the neighborhood with its beautiful smells. Angel statue is a reminder of my Guardian angel Flex (flexible).

Do not touch your monitor. This plant is poisonous!

ONE BEAUTIFUL DAY!

When Anna bought her motor scooter (Yamaha Morphous 250cc) she also bought a "Maintenance Agreement" which would over the course of 3 years, save her a few hundred bucks. Salesman said "With this card, you will be pushed always to the front of the line for service." And that HAS been our experience with other bikes, other dealers.

It took an hour to travel to the dealer in Ft Myers, and we figured to have a nice lunch, pick up the bike and head for home. NOT! Service man told us we could have our "vehicle back in 48". I said, "You mean between 4 and 8 PM?" NOT! he meant 'come back in 48 hours'. Well, that's 2 days. If my only means of transportation is my bike, I'm in deep doo-doo.

It's a 39.3 mile walk back to Naples.

OFF-BLOG:

In Marathon terminology, that's THREE "half-marathons" (13.1 miles each half!). I'm really grinning (yeah, right!) over this business of a non-runner--couple days ago--writing a comment implying that running a half marathon is like doing something only halfway. When the BS quits flying, it begins to pile up. I know about these things. -grin- (I used to drive the team pulling the manure spreader!)

BACK ON BLOG:

We tried to obtain a refund of (well, the whole $799) and the manager and owner said "NOT!"

But they finally did take care of us--in a fashion--and I could see some problems among the staff behind the service desk...service???

Here's the part where AA paid off. We had already been there an hour and our paperwork had not even been attempted. I told the manager that he and I were very fortunate. When he asked Why, that was my cue: I told him that 35 years ago, he would have called the police by this time. And I would have been on my way to the Ft Myers jail, and quite a few really beautiful big bikes would have been destroyed.

Because I used to go berserk over matters of this magnitude. And I told him what Alcoholics Anonymous did for me (and today, for him, better believe it!). He smiled. I think we could become friends.

If I am a "meeting-goer", who sits there day after day (enjoying the AA 'show') and simply just doesn't drink, the end of my day would have had a different outcome. But I am a meeting goer AND a "step taker". That has taught me over many years, to ask myself the question, "Just how important Is It?"

And I ask my Higher Power for help. And He does help. And adversity can be turned into a learning experience for all involved.

pissedoff-a-roni?


Lagniappe!
Picked up a nail in MY rear bike tire. "Service Dept. Mgr." said $300 for new tire, plus $70 to install it. Biker Friend, also World Renouned Phtography Expert Jim H. "plugged" it...for FREE! Saved us $370+tax. Thank you friend. Thank You, God!

Please understand that the best part of this event was not the 'saved' $370+tax...but being with a guy I like, if only for 15 minutes. With a really 'cool' guy, yes, a friend. WWW="What a Wonderful World"