Buddy's Comment: Next time you are taking me!

Lately I seem to meet myself coming and going.  My good intentions for keeping up my scribbles fall quickly by the wayside. But here is a quick catch-up.

My trip back to Michigan was very fun. I thought there would be wi-fi on the train and I could post a message or two along the way but they didn’t have it. But it was a very fun and relaxing trip. I loved my little sleeper car and I sat and listened to audio tapes along the way and stared out at all the scenery. One thing I hadn’t expected was how bumpy and burpy the ride would be. I wasn’t able to read or write because it made me train sick – especially the bit over North Dakota. Rough rails. One fellow train traveler who was from North Dakota said there are so many trains going there is no time to fix the rails. But it was still a great experience and I would do it again.

In fact I think it was a God thing that I couldn’t do anything for 48 hours (the length of the trip) but sit back, enjoy the view and eat good meals. They had excellent meals in the dining car. That was very fun. Each time you go to a meal you are seated with other people and it was fun to talk and share – even knowing you would probably never meet again this side of heaven.

I arrived at my destination – Pontiac, Michigan at 1:30 in the morning. A faithful driver from Guest House was there to pick me up. It was only about 12 miles from there to Lake Orion where Guest House is located. Enjoyed that little trip with Jim (the driver) catching up on weather and events in Michigan. Then I went to bed till it was time for breakfast. I do not miss meals. Nope. Doesn’t matter if I’ve only had a few hours of sleep – meals rank up right there with God and country.

My little sleeper

The week at Guest House was super, duper over the top great. Our first session was that evening and Mary Gene asked each of us how we were doing. I said, “Well, I don’t think I really have an addiction problem and I think once I finish this last session of recovery I may have a little drink of wine now and then.”

Mary Gene said, “Are you serious?”

I said, “Yes, I am.”

The other sisters said, “Are you joking?”

I said, “No, I am not.”

Sister Mary Gene said, “When was the last time you went to a meeting?”

I said, “Hmmm, about 6 to 8 weeks?”

So . . . that is how that first session went. There was a bit more discussion, rolling of eyes, shaking of head  and then we dismissed for the evening. After that there was informal sharing, laughter and fun and then we went to dinner. Good dinner. No sugar, no white flour, plenty of vegetables and fruits – all healthy and delicious and I didn’t have to cook it Always a good thing in my book.

After dinner another session with Mary Gene. Not going to give a play-by-play description of how the sessions went – just suffice it to say by the second day I was recommitted to going back to meetings and not having a glass of wine now and then. End of that conversation.

It was wonderful to be back with our little after care group. It was small, only five of us (they are designed that way) which gave plenty of time for sharing, growing and getting our heads back on straight. I may have only been the only one dropping the addiction piece but all of us had little places we needed fine tuning. Worked like a charm. By Friday we were renewed, refreshed and ready to stay with the program.

One great thing we decided was that since this was our very last official “After Care” (we can always go back if we need to) we would keep up with each other by starting a weekly phone sharing meeting. We tried a sample call while we were there – each going into separate rooms and calling into the conference. We used freeconference.com and it was great. Last week we had our first real call from all parts of the country and it worked super. I think its going to be a great “push” and “pull” for me to stay with recovery.

Two other exciting things happened while I was there.

They have a new head of Marketing and Sales and because I had written a piece for their newsletter last year about how much I liked Guest House and how valuable it was for my recovery – lo and behold they asked me if I was open to being videoed and tell my story. I said, sure, long as I can tell that I came back with a need to come back. Recovery never just happens and it’s all over. It’s a constant road to travel and detours and wrong exits are part of the trip no matter how good a particular program is.

So I got in the movies!

At some point it will be posted on You Tube. I am of course anonymous – but I will share the link with you. The plan is to do a lot more of these but I was the first. Hopefully I didn’t spoil it for those who follow. Was told it will be about four weeks or so – and of course sometimes life happens and things never get done. Been there and done that!

The second exciting thing was that since I work with Guest House managing a  piece of their online After Care recovery I was invited to join one of their telephone sessions with all the Guest House key people. I felt so important! I even got a chance to share about One Recovery (the program I work with.) This was all very amazing to me because when I went back with my new hook on not being an addict I was pretty sure that would be the end of the job. Mary Ellen (the director of Guest House for women) said, “Patricia, we don’t work like that.”

They do work of course getting one back on track – but we’ve already been there and talked about that!

Anyway it was a very big week for me. I flew back the usual way and life returned to normal.

Almost  . . .

I have other big news!

I am moving!

I am renting a little house that has a big yard and is only a mile from my job.

I will share pictures and stuff with another post. Right now I have to get ready for work!