RAMBLING TO MYSELF

(Got two new sponsees this week. 

God is GooD!)

MY RAMBLING WITH--ME

It seems like everyone I know, or ever knew--is recovering from something. (Or should be--grin!)  I'm sitting here happily marveling over our meeting situation--in the Naples area, where 200,000 people live. As everywhere, our groups meet in assorted places; churches, banks, rented halls, small club houses, the beach, and  "other" --more than 200 times each week!
 
NOTE:  I have seen (since early 1974) our AA grow in Naples from 4 meetings each week, to well over 200.
 
In a given year I am a part of nearly each of those groups (of Alcoholics Anonymous) at least once or twice.  My home groups see the most of me, know me, help me, teach me, put up with my Ego, and deal with my Pride (in ways I sometimes do not appreciate--grin!).  And we ALL laugh a lot--together, even at each other's former shenanigans.

In not many venues in SW Florida (Yes, I realize in big cities there are groups which "boast!" 400-600 members, I call them mini-conventions!) do I find a group of 70-90 Peeps coming together at 7 AM every single day, to laugh, meet, greet, commiserate, laugh, enjoy, spread happiness, get work, , laugh, give work, sponsor, help, exchange phone numbers to "talk later", and then laugh some more. 

Within a few seconds, we are ascended immediately onto a spiritual plane, which lends itself to peace and serenity, through helping one another. And we continue smiling and laughing!

The laughing is not a result of jokes being told, although that happens (at 7 AM!). It is more the laughter and true happiness--a relief?--of people who had condemned themselves to an alcoholic and lonely death, and are now changed.  

We have been changed by willfully  following  a God-given Program of Twelve Steps.  We have been given a daily reprieve dependent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.

We laugh especially loud when relating some of the horrors of our past actions, behaviors, and near-death experiences, either in prisons of our own minds, or society's prisons.  We are those who had given up on ourselves, hopeless alcoholics. We had been given up as hopeless by friends, neighbors, families, loved ones (OH! So many loved ones who cared so much for us).  We are not proud of how we have lived, but glad we do not have to live like that again.

You see, we had no choice. Sure, early on we would say softly, so only few might hear, "I wonder if I have a drinking problem?...I only drink a few beers now and then."  A few?  What is a few?  Did I EVER count? Did it matter? At first not, then slowly, through years of habit, I lost my reasons (and my 'reason') for a "few beers". And a few became a "couple" daily bottles of  vodka. Yesss!  A habit, once formed, seeks to grow...especially if it is one of which I LOVE the effect.  

Eventually I crave more and more of that effect.  When I say to myself, "I can stop right now"...I stop. Fine. BUT I become restless, irritable, and discontent, UNTIL I have a few drinks again. Why me? Why not? Maybe so God can use me one day to help another?

The same of those of us who have found a way out through AA.  Why me? Why not? And so I carry this message I've been freely given, to others who not only need it--but WANT it.  Others, who may now need it, but one day, one day...will want it!

Remember, in this posting I was just "talking to myself", Peeps. Rambling!
 
I wish you all to be HAPPY!
I wish you all to be at PEACE!
I wish you all to LOVE!

MANY OF THE PHRASES IN THIS POST WERE TAKEN FROM BOOK ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

FRIENDS FOREVER!

Note to "xxx"
...Forgive easily, laugh joyfully, and serve
others with Love and compassion.
There happiness is.
And keep writing.
US

FELLOWSHIP OR FRIENDSHIP

Tuesday I chair the 8 AM "Early Risers" AA meeting. It is the one for which I was a 'no-show' last Tuesday. Do you remember the meeting in which I apologized the next day, and they looked at me as if to say, "Whatcha talkin' 'bout, man?" What a beautiful moment in my week! A moment of virtue being learned.

Anyway, topic tomorrow is about FRIENDS in AA, and what they mean to me. My AA friends mean more to me than all 'friends' before. These are the people--finally--who accept me at face value, who neither fame nor defame, neither applaud nor blame, neither rate, nor berate. They only share out of love.

Friends, the night after my first AA meeting--I did not even know their names--came to the cocktail lounge where I worked and sat at the bar, in what I figured was the AA way to 'police' their own. How wrong was I! They (usually three guys) came in to be supportive for me, at my job, which was pouring a tank-truck-load of alcohol into glasses for people to drink. In fact, these bar visits by my new AA friends probably are a huge reason why I did not drink since the night before my first AA meeting, a long time ago.

So many who helped, spent time--and money, so many who lent their expert advice, so many who did actual physical labor at my house, so many who patiently tolerated my ranting , my lengthy 'shares', my stupid perspectives, my truth-stretching, so many of these are friends today. Most who were here when I first walked into the room, have passed on. But I find myself frequently quoting them, verbatim, though I do not remember who said what...nor when.

Without friends like mine from sober day one, I would not have had "sober day TWO"! I would not be here today. And so for me there is but one goal left...that is to pass it on, help others to recover from alcoholism. And I only can do that by practicing certain principles in ALL my living of life today. Yep, those Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. A spiritual way of living.

In several areas (family?) I have run into brick walls, walls that maybe I have built. God will either remove them, or let them be. He has not yet 'talked' to me about that -grin! Or perhaps I've not listened to the Spirit-Voice.

Back to topic: FRIENDS.

Fellowship means Friendship. I prefer the friendly term, maybe because I felt so friendless for so many years. So empty. So alone. So forsaken, so abandoned. SO DRUNK! I chose the prison I had built for myself, to be the place where i should die. Death did not come. It did not happen. God intervened. New friends, many of whom had lost everything, saw in me something worth saving. And there I was. God intervened. And here I am.

Two of the alcoholics I know have mountain homes, one in Colorado, one in North Carolina. We have a standing invitation to visit, and enjoy what they have worked so hard for. Isn't that just miracle stuff? For me, it is.

And now, with some years of sobriety, God has sent me to you bloggers. What a profound difference you have made in my life. I have a new motivation to write, to learn, to share, to just be among you. I have learned how to better meditate, pray, spread happiness and good cheer, relate and identify with the new person in the room. I am learning where God is, and where He is not.

Without you bloggers, and our unseen but extremely personal and spiritual relationships, my life today might not be overflowing with love, and I might not be eternally grateful. I might never have translated gratitude into action.

PRAYER REQUEST

Two specific matters in the lives of young people close to us which are very disturbing, will be ongoing for some time. And if anyone has room on their prayer list, please add our intentions. Thank you, dear blogger peeps.

Love,
Steve E

TRIVIA

Did you know the literal meaning of Bethlehem? "House of Bread".
WOW!

PRINCIPLES BEFORE PERSONALITIES

PRINCIPLES BEFORE PERSONALITIES

tradition twelve of alcoholics anonymous

Don't forget to check out Syd's blog on this same Tradition Twelve, if you haven't been there already. We both have thoroughly enjoyed this time with you in this two-sided study/discussion of the past three weeks. Thank you for staying with us--or it would have been lonely out here! -grin!

TRADITION TWELVE!
How many of these things ARE there???

This tradition, I believe, has much more to do with each of us personally. We are--each of us-- ambassadors for Alcoholics Anonymous, wherever we go, especially when we 'announce' ourselves as being sober members of AA. So if I am sober I must ACT sober, right?

Tradition Twelve states: "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."

1. It behooves me to never, never, ever, ever break the anonymity of another AA member. It also behooves me to never say, even whisper, anything of the private life of an AA member, which could somehow, in some way injure, or hurt him or her. I am bound to not even hint by association that another is in (or 'out of') our program. It is the ONE thing that is honored, must be honored, by every AA member.

This IS our spiritual foundation. This IS the binding which holds us together, though in every other way, on every other issue I may argue and disagree. God will surely judge me in how well I perform--or not--in this part of my program.

Let's move on:

2. Recently a fellow, 17-years-sober--a self proclaimed guru in my 6 AM meeting--had rudely cut me off while I was sharing, before I had finished. This has happened more than several times during an eight-month period. So my sponsor said I must confront him, short and sweet, get it over with, and never mention it again. That I must not let someone get away with running over me or another. I said, "OK".

Well, the next morning, I thought long and hard about this for a minute or so, and remembered I had given up fighting anybody or any thing. So I decided to let go of the matter (again). But, the real decision to do nothing, was this: the fellow has quarreled with me several times in the meeting room. So, instead of fabricating a disturbance for our group, I am letting it alone. My sponsor (bless him) agreed that "I may be right". I'm calling this "placing principles before personalities". This is part of Tradition 12 for ME.

3. Among millions of AA members, of which I am, what...a micro-organism? (NOT orgasm, you people!) You would think I am not important, right? WRONG!! To a new person entering our room for the first time I am 100% of the AA he meets, sees, or knows, for that first hour. I am what I see as his 911 call for help, his 911 call for support, his 911 call between him and possible premature death, his 911 call between him and, yes, his GOD! I can be his 'angel'--several have (seriously) mistakenly called me that (or, more likely, the 'devil'), which will guide him back through the wall of hell, to a more pleasing place. Each of us is as important to AA as we are to the God Who made us. When I remember that, I'm in "Tradition 12" mode...

4. In regard to AA (and life in general--believe me!) I am confident and enthusiastic--REALLY! My brand of recovery is finally attractive enough to me and others, that I willingly and readily reveal my AA affiliation in private conversations. This may occur in grocery lines, parking lots, doctors' offices, or in the "bike maintenance garage" to a mechanic. It may happen in a church, a coffee house, a symphony rehearsal, or a line at the ATM.

I am never ashamed of AA, always ready to help another, or to spread the word where another may find me/us. And I'm always ready thereby to help ALSO that most important person...myself. Whenever I'm doing AA work, I have gotten--at least temporarily--out of myself, and into the spiritual life of my fellows. That is the best way for me to stay out of all kinds of trouble, mental, physical, moral...which includes spiritual.

5. In fulfilling my own AA responsibilities, I probably am a little bit lax. Did I say a little bit? Try "doing less and expecting more"! Always ready to help another, I sometimes shirk on performing my duties as best they could be done. I am a master of excuses, having culled the 'best of the best' from 25 years of practice "out there". I promise to do better in this activity. Ha! Maybe I'll volunteer me an assistant, some new guy who is feeling sorry for himself. But, as "head librarian", I still get to tell the jokes!

5. Many of us in AA complain rather constantly about the "way things are run", or the way work is performed, especially by necessary paid professionals. We complain about those who complain, and about those who do not.

Funny, I sobered up--only to find I was still exactly ME, the same as always, except I did not drink any more. Everything else was the same. I was still the same old ass-hole. There had to be some changes made. I had to realize that AA includes many who might never have associated with one another...well, isn't that true? It is for me! So I had to learn to tolerate, respect, and love each and every one of us. That is not easy in some instances, but IS necessary. "Principles, before Personalities." Remember?

I was exactly like that farmer on page 82 of the Big book, who, after the tornado, saw everything as "hunky-dory". I completely overlooked the chaos all about, the havoc everywhere. Actually, that WAS me--for a long time ("Blong" Time?). In AA. I thought 'not drinking' was about all I needed to do, to live that life of productive fulfillment. A rebuilding from the ground up was an absolute for me.

Through working over and over the Twelve Steps, and observing to my best, the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have built, and am still in the process of building, a new and better life for me and those around me.

I've NEVER ever been more happy, relaxed, serene, and at peace, than these past ten or so years. March 18 will be the 35th anniversary of my last drink. And it seems like yesterday. I continue to attend two or three meetings every day at this time, because I love them...and because I CAN!

And I am so full of gratitude, and love, that I'm fairly bursting with joy most of the time. Thank you all who have labored with Syd and myself through these traditions the past several weeks. They are not easy--but they ARE simple! AMEN!

Steve E

LET'S TAKE THE FIFTH

Somehow I'm feeling as if I--an Alcoholic--have a 'brother' in Alanon, named SYD ("I'm Just F.I.N.E. in Alanon"). since he and I are typing out our take(s) on the Traditions these days. (I was gonna take a breather and post something else--but DARE not, can't let an Alanon get one up on me--AGAIN! -grin

Wednesday's posting follows:

Parts of the following are taken from literature which is listed under the following copyrights:
Copyright © The A. A. Grapevine, Inc., and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing (now known as Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)

TRADITION FIVE

"Each group has but one Primary Purpose--to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers."

Well, this Tradition names, and is obviously directed to "each group", so it does not directly affect me or my activities. Maybe I am involved insofar as the group decides who will make 12th step calls, etc. Right? WRONG!!!

The very heartbeat of Alcoholics Anonymous is addressed now. The life-giving blood which fills the arteries of A.A., the very essence of our program--is that one-on-one, eyeball-to-eyeball connection which occurs when one alcoholic meets with--and helps--another alcoholic. Sharing such as this is nothing less than spiritual, and in the balance hangs a new life--or death--for one, or both.

Early in sobriety, I found myself--The "REAL" MR FEAR AND PARANOIA--suddenly thrust into the role of "fearless leader" (well, not exactly!). Here I was, trying to help one whose life was in the toilet, not even flushed yet. At least, my old life was on the way through the pipes.

The blind leading the blind? Maybe so, but the guy who I helped--actually, he helped ME--was still around--sober-- thirty years later. We gave to each other the courage to let each other know the do's, don't's, the must's, the never's ("We do not drink, NMW--No Matter What!). We do not gossip--neither never got good at that! And we "hung around together". That became OH! so important.

I loaned money to newcomers...and had them do odd jobs for me at my house--heck, they needed SOMETHING to do! Right? NO, NO, NO. WRONG!!!

We do not do those things. A rule of mine has always ALWAYS been--when--if--I hand money to someone, it is a GIFT, NEVER a loan! Neither one need ever address the issue again. This has worked well for me.

I've always had a problem. (Ego, maybe? I'll have to remember to talk to my sponsor about this...Hmmmmm.) The problem is this. I hate to ask someone (in the program) to work for me. I figure I'll either pay him too much (and I'll get a resentment) or not enough (and he'll get the resentment). Ya know I DO realize this thinking is not valid, but it's an old defect that I just rediscovered a half-minute ago. Believe me, I do not ENJOY admitting I'm not perfect--to the dozen or so bloggers who read this.

I can "pick-and-choose" who I wish to 12th Step--steer clear of anyone who needs a bath, or a clean shirt...Again. NO, NO, NO. WRONG!!

Whoever walks in the door, and WHENever! I am there. Yep! Just ask around. I try to be right with the new face--IN their face, with a smile, a "Howdy!" and a "Welcome Home" (just like they say at Dr Bob's home in Akron OH.) And this happens frequently in my groups here. If (she's) wearing a bikini, I introduce her IMMEDIATELY to a woman I trust to be of maximum help. God usually lets me know who are these people.

And yep! I help my group in it's Primary Purpose venture. I'm librarian, in charge of giving away Big Books to those who cannot afford them.

I do NOT raise my hand when the chair asks who would like to be a sponsor. I think that should be a "God" thing. If a guy hears from me a message to himself, he can ask me to help him. My smile does NOT turn people away! I believe we try to "baby" our new people too much, and then we try to "make it easy" to do things like "ASK" for help.

I believe A.A. long-timers have it "made". they don't need help from ME. Right? WRONG!!

In this regard I am a failure, but from now on I shall be more vigilant. Some "old" guys need a ride to a doctor's office, they cannot drive home after a certain medication, maybe. Some "old" guys are just simply "lonely old souls". They have put in their time, have helped hundreds of drunks. And what do I give them? I A.S.S.U.M.E. they are F.I.N.E. After all, they've been sober what? 20-30-40 years???
They MUST be OK! Not necessarily so.

Twelfth-Stepping of the highest order MUST be in the helping of those elderly A.A.'s who are ill, hurting, broken-hearted, FEARFUL...or just plain TIRED.

I try to do my share, and then a little extra, for the guy who cannot. That's enough out of me on Primary Purpose--I could write on and on, with life experiences on this topic. Probably make some interesting blogs some day.

Today, I leave you all in God's hands, trusting that He will protect you and me, and that He will see us all stay sober today. Right? RIGHT!!!

Peace, and LOVE,
Steve E.

NUMBAH FOAH--TRADITIONALLY SPEAKING

Before I move onto the Fourth (dimension, or tradition--I forgot!) I wish to welcome The Queen to my blog...and to suggest you drive over to her castle at QUEEN'S WORLD, and check her out--NOTE: Her sh** is not for everyone, but it is a breakaway for me, from the pain of "thinking too much". As if THAT was my problem -grin!


Parts of the following are taken from literature which is listed under the following copyrights:
Copyright © The A. A. Grapevine, Inc., and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing (now known as Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)

THE FOURTH TRADITION:

The "short form".....it's all I can deal with tonight:

"Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole."

For this Tradition I'm going to ask myself some pertinent--maybe embarrassing?-- questions. You may answer these for yourselves as well. (I hear you now..."Oh God, ya mean I gotta THINK?") NOTE: That was the first question, and the answer is "NO"!

Q 1. Do I insist there are only a few 'right' ways of doing things in A.A.?

I sure USED to think like that. My way or the Highway was the rule. I lived by the 'rules' as they were taught me in 1974. When any group shouted out at the end of the Lord's Prayer, "It works if ya work it"! I would stand right up and tell them, ""That has nothing to do with A.A." (Of course, the Lord's Prayer has nothing to do with A.A. But THAT is different, because THAT was what I was taught.)

There are as many 'formats' as there are groups in A.A. If I do not agree with a group's method of holding a meeting, I can join the 'business' part of the group, and try to change their thinking--Hah!--or I can join another group (Prayer Girl suggested the freedom this tradition gives me to simply change groups!) No questions are EVER asked. Who knew? I certainly did not, until I had been sober here for ten years...

Q 2. Does my group always consider the welfare of A.A. and other groups in town? Everywhere?

Yes. Most of the groups in Naples are very compatible with other groups, there's LOTS of "mixed families" in our town's meetings. And almost all conform to the Traditions, or are told about it by some (heheh) long-timers.

I joined a group last April which meets every morning at 7. I still attend DAILY meetings there, but the group is not quite as 'laid back' as I like...too many RULES, soooooo:

I joined this month a "cookie meeting" group which meets Thursday nights, a speaker meeting. I love it. The few who meet once a month to conduct group business are energetic and loyal. They are called the Naples group, which is the group that pulled me in the door 34 years ago.

Q 3. Do I 'put down' other members' behaviors when it does not suit me, or do I learn from it?

OMG, I knew we'd come to this. I fail here, not miserably, but even the slightest failure is miserable. First thing which happens is guilt sets in, then remorse, then it's Ninth Step time. I hate having to do Step nine, and glad it doesn't happen often these days. And so, finally I learn, to LIVE AND LET LIVE, and 34 years ago I never imagined that phrase would continue to haunt me this much later.

Q 4. I'll just ANSWER this question: Yes, I am aware frequently that I am sometimes the only representative outsiders will ever view of A.A. And I behave accordingly, so as not to give scandal to my LOVE...Alcoholics Anonymous and God!

Q 5. Am I willing to help a newcomer to go to any lengths--HIS lengths, not mine--to stay sober?

Willing to help any time anywhere, anyhow, any ONE! YESSS!

However--and this is BIG--it has NEVER occurred to me (until now) that another's "any lengths" would be different from MY "any lengths"...but it sure makes sense. I have 34 years' experience here, sober! Why--or how--could I EVER have expected another who is sober two days or two years, to have that same fervor, that same love for God, and love for A.A., which I have nurtured in myself all these years, one-day-at-a-time? LIVE AND LEARN. Don't look back, Steve. Keep on keeping on.

Q 6. Do I share my knowledge of A.A. tools with other members who may not have heard of them?

Yes!

Finally, on the last question I got to put down an unequivocal "YES"!!! This short session helped me. I hope and pray it may have helped at least one other person to understand more about what this program, this gift from God is about, and why it remains fairly the same now as 70 or so years ago.

Please remember this discussion is simply a few words of MY understanding of these wonderful Traditions, and in no way is intended as a 'teaching' mechanism. I do not 'teach' A.A. I simply share my own experience, strength, and sometimes HOPE with you. I love you! ALL of you! My heart is yours tonight. Prayer Girl is with me, and we are happy!

Sincerely,
Steve E.

DOES GOLD GLITTER?

ALL THAT IS GOLD DOES NOT GLITTER

For Christmas holiday my wife gave me a special gift which I had picked, a gold cross. This is the first time in my life I've owned a real piece of gold. It feels so good. The cross is larger than what it seemed in the pawn shoppe (When something is named "shoppe" everything costs 20% more.)

Since the actual cross makes a startling appearance against a black sweater, I have listened to several confessions in the mall. People say "Good morning, Father!" in their early morning cheerfulness. And I just walk around 'blessing' them. I hold out my hand, so they may 'touch' me, if they like. So far, no miracles have shown themselves. (You KNOW this paragraph was tongue-in-cheek, right?) And there WAS/IS one miracle:

I AM SOBER! Corollaries to that are: I am happy, I am free. I am joyful, to a degree. For all that, I'm grateful!

The following part-paragraph is from our beautiful Big Book, "Alcoholics Anonymous". It is written by a woman, but BEST--Oh! so best--describes my last years of that non-sober life, lived in a foggy state between half-awareness and oblivion, which some of us know so well. In the Second and Third Editions, page 224, and in the Fourth Edition, page 202 will take you to "ME". Title of story is "Women Suffer Too". My heart beats faster still, as I read this excerpt:

"And I remember the creeping horror of the interminable night, in which I slept for short spells and woke dripping with cold sweat and shaken with utter despair, to drink hastily from my bottle and mercifully pass out again. 'You're mad, you're mad, you're mad!' pounded through my brain with each returning of my consciousness, and I drowned the refrain with drink."

Every word is important, because each word harbors a meaning of truth for me, for the way life (slow death) WAS.

I must say to you, that from there ("I was alone and lonely...")--to here (enthusiastic joyfulness)--was not a one-day job. It took God, with my somewhat reluctant and sometimes half-assed cooperation, almost thirty-five years to get from there.....to here--wherever 'here' is. Here is where is the GOLD!

Do not ask me if I wish to go back to that life. Whatever I do today--I know what I'm doing. Seldom do I know WHY, but I do not want to know the answer to 'why'? So, please do not ask "Why?" Ask "What?" or ask "How?" or "When?" or "Who?".....or "Who cares?" -grin.

Gratitude I express now, with enthusiasm for my sobriety, for this Golden Way of Life--our program of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions--and reaching out to touch anyone who also reaches out for help, for support, or for me to (ahem!) "hear their confession" -BIG GRIN!!!

In Peace, Service (I guess we're ALL in the 'service' business!), and LOVE.

Steve E.
Who posted this, and When???

CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

Lake City, CO is down there somewhere--see it? Click on pic to enlarge.
Good AA group, fine restaurant, and ICE CREAM parlor.
Oh, and real estste sales. And beauty all around!!
Little over an hour from Powderhorn, CO.

IT CAN'T GET ANY
BETTER THAN THIS--
CAN IT?

Well, I used to say that many years ago, every day. Then came a bunch of years that I thought could not get any worse...but they did. And that was in sobriety. Now, I'm in complete agreement with ZJ (ZaneJabbers), when he says , "It just will not get any better than that!" Well, maybe not 'complete' agreement. Because each time I say that or believe it...it DOES get better!

It used to be I was wary of people who (almost) always said, "I feel GREAT!" In fact, I don't even remember anyone saying that constantly...consistently. But I do say it, because that's mostly the way it IS, friends. And it has been that way for a long time now. Sure, there are little quirks now and then...we're not talking PERFECTION here! OK?

One recent habit of mine these days is--when riding my bike--asking God to let me be an instrument in delivering His and AA's message of sobriety. And please to let me know what He wants me to say or do, and with whom. Well, my Higher Power has been 'right on' with this.

Yesterday, on the way to a 5:30, I asked that He allow someone to be helped by me at the meeting. Before I got in the room--out in the parking lot--a strange lady walked up to my bike and she seemed to need special help. So I gave her my wife's phone number and said, "If a man answers, hang up" -grin- ...or ask for Anna. Who would EVER figure she might call. She DID!

This morning before the meeting, I met a guy (who was having trouble "with the God thing", you know what I mean?). I said if he'd stay for the meeting, he would hear some "good stuff" around the room of 86 people--many of them long-time sobers. As you'd guess, he DID hear some wonderful words of wisdom, some real bon mots--and so did I.

Later, I saw him with his sponsor. He was visibly moved and I overheard him say, "...and I was not even going to come into the room this morning, when Steve gave me a 'push', and I received the most marvelous revelations about my Higher Power...."

BTW, I HAD prayed to God--on my way to my meetings at 5:30 AM--to allow me to assist in His work this morning. And also, I knew ahead of time, the topic for today, because I was chairperson! Ha! Sneaky!

And so ends another day
When I may humbly say
and in Gratitude--pray
"It just doesn't get any better than this!"

sober-roni