Norman rockwell

Hey Peeps I LOVE the video stuff prominently displayed (FINALLY!) on the top slab of these TSR pages. Thank you Sooooo much! What a fine improvement! Gives me another reason to stay up all night!

Also, I’m taking a few days away from my other blog.
Hope you don’t mind my intrusion into your spaces here

BEEN THERE
NOW I’M HERE

Several meetings I’ve attended the past few days have begun with great topics, e.g., “Acceptance”, “Anonymity”, “Honesty”, “Step Nine”, “Tenth Tradition”, to name a few. Seems like after about a half-hour, one member or other has brought up a current-affairs topic regarding world markets, money matters, mortgage foreclosure statistics, unemployment figures, and the like. A happening like this immediately changes the tone of a meeting (song:  “From This Moment”).

True, we are living in a time of much distress. I somehow believe these “issues” (I really hate that word!) belong maybe before or after the meeting…possibly I’m looking at it wrong. Of course, if I’m having a foreclosure proceeding against me etc., etc., it might be high time to “talk it out”, even during the meeting, if I choose.

Troubled times are almost always with us, it seems. Examples are WW I, the Great Depression, the WW II years 1941-1945 and before and after those years. Then followed Korea, Vietnam, the dark threat of Communism with nukes pointed in each direction, then the Middle East conflicts, and many, many in-between moments of worldly uneasiness. And so the pendulum again is swinging along its temporary and momentary, weary  trip in the other direction. This shall not affect my happiness, my gratitude, my spirituality, my sobriety! Yours?

Thank God, I am just like the several million miracles of sobriety sitting at tables in rooms all over the world.

After all, who of us has never known being broke–or broken-hearted? Who of us has never known homelessness–or a home with less? Who of us has never known jobless days or months–or low-paying dead-end jobs which we hated? Who of us has not known despair or euphoria, and the step-ladder trip to places between?

Yet, I look around the rooms, and see that members who have been working these Twelve Steps, are wearing shoes, seem well-fed, have clean shirts, etc., and are fairly groomed.  Sure, some perfume is TOO much, (OK, Nellie-Jane?) -grin-

What I mean is that many of us were not very well off at one time or other, and now things are better. And they will keep getting better. I am learning–during these world crises–patience and (lots of) tolerance. I am learning how to keep a good (great!?) attitude, midst the predicted horribly fateful future happenings of our times. I wish to be at peace, evidently some in the world do not.

NOTE:  Love to all, especially Jinx and A. Miles, who took good care of this alcoholic in Virginia last summer.  You guys are two VERY special peeps, dedicated professionals.