This Is Halloween

Happy Halloween! It's another gorgeous day in New Orleans. I had a beef taco salad for lunch. Had a great meeting at the Mustard Seed. Sitting in PJ's right now.

At the meeting we discussed controversy and giving advice when we shouldn't be. All the stories were pretty much the same. That isn't a bad thing, though. It reinforces how alike we alcoholics are. We like to be know-it-alls, and we like to try and advise people. The results from this can sometimes be disastrous. Even in recovery we have to be very careful what we say to people, especially the ones new to the program or who are still out there suffering. My sponsor tells me that it is ok to help if you are sharing from experience or have specific knowledge in the area. Even then we have to be aware and cautious (sometimes avoiding certain subjects altogether such as love, politics, religion, etc). When it was my time to share, I kept it brief. Talked about the truck driver a bit, and how I was only doing what I could to help... but had to be responsible about it too.

Today is turning out to be a bit harder than I thought. Was going to try and treat it like a regular day. It's just a bit difficult spending it by myself. Usually spend it with Sarah and surrounded by friends. I love her and I miss her. That's all I'll say about that. I work tonight so maybe my mind will be on other things.

I hope everyone has a great Halloween and gets lots of Reese's cups! If you do, have one for me. :)

Giving Out Chips and All Hallow's Eve... Eve

Corny title, but hey, it's nice to have some of my goofiness back.

Had a good day at work. Had a really good... and surprising meeting too. I got there about 15 minutes early so I went in and helped set up. On my way to the restroom the moderator asked me if I would hand out chips. Not potato chips. Not fish and chips. AA chips. I paused for a moment. I'm always up for any kind of service work that is asked of me. Before I accept it, though, I give my sobriety date. Some service work requires that you've been in the program for a certain amount of time, you see. He said it was ok. It's not a monumental task. Doesn't have to be. I'm just stoked that I got asked... or as he put it "volun-told". It's a small reminder of how far I've come that someone actually singled me out to do something like that. Wouldn't have happened back when I was half-assing it. I just sort of lurked in the shadows back then.

We had a great speaker. He told us his story from when he was in boarding school and kind of sheltered to when he started his drinking career in a college fraternity. After college he said he'd become very successful at his job, but drank non-stop when he got home. His first wife divorced him and took the kids, and his second wife died of complications due to alcoholism. None of this gave him cause to stop himself. He said it wasn't until he'd suffered mild brain damage after an intense bender that he quit. I think the whole room found something to identify with in his story. I certainly did. Oh. I ran into my sponsor there too.

Now, some people have asked me what I'm going as for Halloween. I wince a bit at the question, but then answer that I'm working that night. I usually do something with friends. Dress up and go to a get together, watch a scary movie, then maybe walk up to the cemetery (and take pictures of it through the fence). It's fine though. Can't celebrate them all and I need the money. Gotta prioritize. Anyway... I'm off Wed. so I get to go see Buckwheat Zydeco and The Subdudes! Last free concert in Lafayette Square of the year. Woot.