Sunday, February 25, 2007

WE

BACKGROUND:
Since I stopped drinking in September '03, I've attended at least 1 A.A. meeting each day. On most days, I get to 2 meetings, sometimes 3. I don't do 90/90; it's more like 180/90. This is not to beat my own drum. This is what it seems to take for me to stay somewhat sane during these early years of recovery.

This past week, from Friday to Friday, I was out of town, in Costa Rica. On vacation with Hayden. I went down there armed with printouts of A.A. meeting locations and phone numbers in both areas we would be staying. We had tourist-type activities planned daily.

I did not make it to a meeting the first 2 days in San Jose (the capital city). Couldn't find the time. But I was fine and just enjoyed the scenery and good times. We then travelled to the Pacific coast resort where we would be staying for 4 days. More activity. All day and night. Day 3 -- no A.A. meeting. I was beginning to notice the change in my thinking. Certainly, Hayden noticed as well. He made mention of it. More than once. Day 4 - again no meeting. Things I was beginning to get ugly. I found fault with just about everything surrounding me. People, places and things. What's that saying about we always hurt the ones we love? You fill in the blank here. End of Day 4 (Tuesday)-- I was batshit crazy.

Wednesday morning I got a taxi and went to the closest A.A. meeting. It was less than a mile away from our hotel. Fine bunch of people, nearly all Americans now living in Costa Rica.
During that afternoon though, I got into an argument with Hayden. About nothing in particular, I was just being insane, finding things to argue about that I made up in my mind. So I went to another meeting at 6pm at a different location, even closer than the last. I shared during that meeting that I had been neglecting myself (my program) these past few days. I admitted that earlier in the day I had an argument with my partner. Then I corrected that statement by saying that I had an argument while he just tried to ignore me. Everybody laughed. They understood.

Now I was OK again. The world was once again a great place to be. I had returned to my normal self (God help us all). I went to another meeting the following morning, feeling all fine and full of recovery. Maybe my HP thought it was time for me to be personally shown that I can no longer treat my disease with words alone. I have to have the fellowship with other sober alcoholics. I must be physically present with you guys in the rooms. Meeting makers make it.

I had neglected the WE of the program. Without that, I have no program.

10 comments:

Mary Christine said...

What a wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing. I am so glad you got to a meeting (or two.)

Pammie said...

Glad you're back dave. Isn't it funny how squirley we can get when we...sober alcoholics...get away from each other?
It's like we "forget" that we are different from our fellow travelers....and then when we see our reflection in each other...we remember.

Anonymous said...

Good stuff dAAve, thanks for sharing and for your never ending support :)

Meg Moran said...

yeah...I have to do meetings when I travel too or I go into "the zone of restless irritable & discontent". Hey , thanks for the answer to my email.

piglet said...

i feel you on that, it's good to test the waters sometimes. just to realize that we do really, really need meetings.

in case you didn't see it the first time, i missed you lots and lots!!

Mike said...

Liked the jokes, loved the sharing about insanity, irritation, discontentment etc etc.

I went 7 days about a week ago without a meeting. I was having a tough time understanding my own behavior. Hit six meetings in 4 days when I got home, allowed me to regain some serenity.

Sober @ Sundown said...

Hi Dave,

Glad you made it back and are still relatively sane, well as sane as an alcoholic can be......

GOOOOOD ol Rockytop... rockytop tennesseeeeee! said...

Great story Dave, you made me laugh! One of my friends from Tampa was down in Costa Rica this last week as well... I wonder if you saw him!

lushgurl said...

Hey dAAve glad you are back safe and sound! Thanks for the ever needed reminder that my disease is always waiting to take over, only meetings and constant contact can be my salvation!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing that story, dAAve. I am glad I'm not the only one who turn into an "I -don't-know-what" if I don't get meetings on a regular.
Peace and glad you are home safely,
Scout