PHOTO by Bill S, Naples FL
PARADISE ON EARTH
Upon moving to Naples Florida 47 years ago, age 32, I was literally enthralled with EVERYTHING from weeds to winged creatures, crawlers to crayfish, peaceful sunny days (300 each year!) to hurricanes.
Then happened a time period of raising a family, working two jobs, plus playing violin--talk about stress! During these years I began to take for granted everything for which we'd stopped and stayed.
Upon moving to Naples Florida 47 years ago, age 32, I was literally enthralled with EVERYTHING from weeds to winged creatures, crawlers to crayfish, peaceful sunny days (300 each year!) to hurricanes.
Then happened a time period of raising a family, working two jobs, plus playing violin--talk about stress! During these years I began to take for granted everything for which we'd stopped and stayed.
NOTE:
(Except the seven Package Liquor Stores--one for each day of the week! Heaven on earth...Really!) Actually, my wife (now deceased) and I were just passing through, stopped--and stayed, early 1965.
We boated, fished, swam naked, explored uninhabited beaches, but it was all, like, so dull, boring--always praying that tomorrow would be better. Reality would have us wonder, "What could be better?" But reality had escaped our lives. In truth, we had escaped reality in a bottle.
Finally, tomorrow is here. And better it is, so much so. Only changes I would have are selfish ones. God will one day say either "Yes", "No", or "maybe, if you're good boy", HA! (Boy!) I enjoy to be known how happy I am to be sober (actually, I shout it from the rooftops!), see others stop drinking and stay sober, and have more friends in sobriety than I'd ever imagined. A simple way of life, working on some self-defects, helping others to find their way in life. Lot of our work as alcoholics is one-on-one sharing with another. Others are always helping me also.
This new life--a busy one to be sure--leads to less stress (sometimes none?) very little if any anxiety, and a spectacular freedom known only to a few--because I talk to lot of Peeps who are not free. I was imprisoned by my own soul.
All my life the only word I knew was "Yes!" Lately I've learned of another word, "No!" What Freedom....
I am honored to be allowed to play violin at mass almost every week--this does not make me a holy Peep, but I can and do LOVE it--grin!
Friends I love, in very special ways, finding joy in time spent together. Some live far away. It is difficult to realize that at the end, my wish bucket will not be empty. But somehow I believe that God's wishes will survive, and provide us all with an eternity which--if we knew what really it was like--would kill us.
LOVE and PEACE!
Steve E
(Except the seven Package Liquor Stores--one for each day of the week! Heaven on earth...Really!) Actually, my wife (now deceased) and I were just passing through, stopped--and stayed, early 1965.
We boated, fished, swam naked, explored uninhabited beaches, but it was all, like, so dull, boring--always praying that tomorrow would be better. Reality would have us wonder, "What could be better?" But reality had escaped our lives. In truth, we had escaped reality in a bottle.
Finally, tomorrow is here. And better it is, so much so. Only changes I would have are selfish ones. God will one day say either "Yes", "No", or "maybe, if you're good boy", HA! (Boy!) I enjoy to be known how happy I am to be sober (actually, I shout it from the rooftops!), see others stop drinking and stay sober, and have more friends in sobriety than I'd ever imagined. A simple way of life, working on some self-defects, helping others to find their way in life. Lot of our work as alcoholics is one-on-one sharing with another. Others are always helping me also.
This new life--a busy one to be sure--leads to less stress (sometimes none?) very little if any anxiety, and a spectacular freedom known only to a few--because I talk to lot of Peeps who are not free. I was imprisoned by my own soul.
All my life the only word I knew was "Yes!" Lately I've learned of another word, "No!" What Freedom....
I am honored to be allowed to play violin at mass almost every week--this does not make me a holy Peep, but I can and do LOVE it--grin!
Friends I love, in very special ways, finding joy in time spent together. Some live far away. It is difficult to realize that at the end, my wish bucket will not be empty. But somehow I believe that God's wishes will survive, and provide us all with an eternity which--if we knew what really it was like--would kill us.
LOVE and PEACE!
Steve E
