Tuesday, September 01, 2009

A memorable anniversary


Momma cat Hayley with her 7 kitten litter September 1, 2003.

These are the 2 kittens I kept. They are 4 years old in this picture. Today, they are 6 years old.



todAAy i AAM grAAteful & thAAnkful


6 years ago today, I was waking up from one of my worst ever drunk nights. After more than 12,000 days and nights of drinking, I was done. Later in the day, I found out about my atrocious behavior from the day before. I came close to being robbed and possibly murdered by a street hustler and remembered absolutely nothing about it.
I now know that I had hit my bottom. I can think of no better words to use than incomprehensible demorilzation. I will do anything to never feel that way again. But I am stubborn. I drank again that day and the next 3 days. It wasn't until September 4th at a noon AA meeting that I had my psychic change, my spiritual awakening.

that I know my experience can benefit others

for my personal best on the elliptical (cardio) machine yesterday -- 1 hour!!
-- for someone who smoked 3 packs/day for 36 years and now has Peripheral Artery Disease, that's an accomplishment I didn't think I could do


What you do may seem insignificant, but it's important that you do it.
- Mahatma Gandhi

18 comments:

Pammie said...

September birthdays rock!
Do you still have the Mama cat?
You drunk? Nah...can't picture it.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Dave -- your sobriety is an inspiration to so many people...

Sending you a big anniversay hug,
Sue

steveroni said...

More than 36,000 packs of nicotine traveled through the smokestack of your body...and you stopped.

Your experience can help others.

Ed G. said...

Congrats (almost...)

Blessings and aloha...

Scott W said...

Hmmm. Sounds like someone had a purpose in keeping you around.

Mary Christine said...

Happy Birthday to your beautiful cats!

Syd said...

Dave, happy birthday to the cats. And a happy almost 6 year birthday to you. It triggers a lot of compassion in me to read about your worst drunk. I guess that's the codie in me and why I go to Al-Anon. Is Mama Cat still around?

big Jenn said...

Quitting booze and cigarettes is a huge deal for us addicts. I admire your workout time too.
That's the part of my own personal journey I struggle with.
Happy almost 6 birthday to you and happy birthday to your kitties! jeNN

dAAve said...

Yes, mama cat (Haley) is still around. In fact, she's on my lap as I type.

Unknown said...

Have a great day! Enjoy it and all that you have today, you are an inspiration and your kitties are very adorable.
G

garden-variety drunk said...

that we're alive to tell the tale and use it to benefit others is such a gift. happy birthday kitties- positively adorable

Tall Kay said...

How cool that you have those kittens around to remind you of the incomprehensible demoralization of those last few days of drinking...You are a miracle.

LORRE said...

daave you are the first blog I've read. I love the way you think. I borrowed (took) your quote about a postive attidude and but on my fb. it was sooo true. as I re-read this it seems it's all about me.lol

Anonymous said...

so yeah, you made me tear up. an amazing post dave, thanks for sharing it out here.

i have large respect for you and i'm glad you made it out of there alive.

xoxo

Raechelle said...

Happy Anniversary! This is the first time I have looked at your blog-today will be my first day to attend AA.
I look forward to following more of your days of sobriety!

F. McButter Pants said...

Great Post!

Love the quote at the end. It's always important to somebody!

Way to tear up the eliptical. Damn smokes!

Carol said...

Nice to hear a little of your story.

Kathy Lynne said...

congratulations.....for every single day...