TOPIC: Touching Base. Keeping In Touch. How Are You Doing?

[aasharon90]

Bikers in recovery....sounds good to me....

Never thought Id enjoy the life as much as
I do now, esp. with all the changes going on.

My job at bakery is going well after a yr.
trying to fit in comfortably. Seems now I
have something in common with the people
that own the bakery. BIKES....And they
r Harley and Yamaha owners.

I can go to work now and talk about my
experiences with them and feel a part of.

Anyway....that is a "cool feeling."

Along with waiting on the papers of my
settlement to come in, I find that Im
not worried...mainly because I have a
Power greater than I helping me.

I also have a friend in recovery that
has been a tremendous help in the
communication dept. between my
family and I.

I believe this person was placed in
my life for a reason and for that I
am truely grateful.

I havent a clue as to how my lifes story
will end up down the road, but all I know
is that my faith won't steer me wrong.

Im hoping that this next stop in life will
be my last as I dont want to move anymore.

All my life I have never felt like Ive truely
had a place to call home....My first house
was my parents until I moved out at 18.

Then to an apt for several yrs till I got married
in 82. Even that little house where we raised
our kids was only a beginners home and was
told it wasnt our dream home....

Plucked from that corner of the world 10 some
ought yrs ago, I moved to Houston where
I knew for *amn sure it was going to be
my last home.

December of 2006 i returned to my hometown
of Baton Rouge into an apt. which has been
comforting and safe. However its not my home.

What is a home? What will it take for me to
have a place I can finally call home?

As I work on the answer and solution to
that question Ive been searching for all
my life, I have come up with a positive
formular to use towards it....

12 Steps.....

Just as we use the 12 steps to help us
stay sober, then why wouldnt it work
if applied properly to a new relationship.

A new relationship. A new home. A new
life. Change. New bike....New Beginnings.

[toad]

Any AA meeting I walk into I feel at home. Even if I have never met the people, we are family.

Share this with me:


"Now is the time, the only time there is. And if we are not kind to ourselves right now, we certainly cannot rightfully expect respect or consideration from others. We have found we can enjoy, sober, every good thing we enjoyed while drinking -- and many, many more.
It takes a little practice, but the rewards more than make up for the effort. To do so is not selfish, but self-protective. Unless we cherish our own recovery, we cannot survive to become unselfish, ethical, and socially responsible people."

© 1998 AAWS, Living Sober, p.42

[aasharon90]

Thanks Toad...that makes sense.....

For men....well mostly men....where ever
they hang their hat, then it's home. Right?

For women...to make a house a home, one must
change things inside. A house is just a building,
a shell.....but a home is filled with love, kindness,
understanding, trust, a bonding or meshing
together of 2 people.

Yes I agree that when i enter an AA meeting
that people inside bring that building to life....

The sharing of their ESH with others....the
holding of hands, bonding, fellowship....

In a home with 2 people in recovery their
is also a meshing of 2. A bond, friendship,
trust, respect, sharing, understanding,
giving and taking....

Can 2 people in recovery work together
as one to make a house a warm comfortable,
home....?

[sticker]

my sponser taght me the #1 rule for being in a relationship with another person in recovery...her programs none of my bussiness, and mine is none of hers. We keep our recovery seperate..go to different meeting and it has been the best thing i have learned..we both have a strong recover witch does indeed bring a happy home

[Rarly Harley]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

Can 2 people in recovery work together
as one to make a house a warm comfortable,
home....?

Sharon: My wife Bonnie and I met in recovery and are now married 9 years. Our home is warm,comfortable and inviting. I have never been happier and Bonnie tells me the same thing. We go to separate A.A. meetings and have separate sponsors and A.A. friends in our respective support systems. We made a commitment to each other that we would keep the focus on ourselves and not take each other's inventory. Today, we talk to each other about whatever is going on with us, sharing completely, openly and honestly. It has been a lot of work and the road has been bumpy in several stretches, but we have grown together. So, my answer to your question is yes.....

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

Today, we talk to each other about whatever is going on with us, sharing completely, openly and honestly.

I have a little E, S & H in this department.

In the mid-'80s I met and married an AA woman. Our relationship was founded on the kind of honesty Rarly described, and so long as we kept talking to each other, as honestly and openly as we could, our relationship stayed strong, healthy, and happy. We went through some hellish times together - I could tell you horror stories! - but when the smoke cleared we were still there for each other.

That marriage failed in part (my part) because I stopped telling her what was going on inside me. We were living in the depths of the Reagan recession, our finances were bad, and jobs were virtually non-existent. We were living on charity of friends and family, and it was killing me. I was trying to salvage a bankrupt business, and I was running on fear, rage, and defensiveness. I couldn't bring myself to tell her that - to let her see how weak and afraid I was. Instead, I shut her out of my heart, and it wasn't long before our marriage died.

Now, my ex-wife had her own stuff going on, and I can't say we'd have made it even if my behavior had been different. However, I feel certain no marriage (and especially no AA marriage) can survive without the same gut-level honesty I bring to my Fifth and Tenth Steps.

So, I know what not to do. My life with Jackie is an exercise in figuring out what to do!

[aasharon90]

Thanks guys....that is totally awesome to hear
how recovery works in a marriage.....

Altho, im ending my 25 marriage soon....been
separated over a yr now, I have faith and
hope in a new relationship beginning with
a program of recovery based on openness,
willingness and honesty.

Changing the subject from relationships
to Harley bikes.... love it love it love it.

This weekend we have the H.O G. ralley
here in Baton Rouge. Im totally excited
about it because it will be my first of many
opportunities to experience this type of
fun....

Since im in the beginning stages of learning
all there is to know about bikes I am ecstatic
about taking my first steps by attending
this kind of function.

To be in the mist of many bikers and just
be absorbed in aw of whats going on there.

I just cant wait.....

There will be entertainment by .38 Special
and Eddie Money.....lots of booths to visit
and shopping....

So while my divorce is moving along
as should be, I have the joy of a new
life experience before me to enjoy
and to take my mind off the anxiety
of ending one chapter in my life
and beginning a new one with faith
and guidance from Above....

And most of all the ESH shared by
u guys here in SR.

Thank you thank you thank you

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by aasharon90

There will be entertainment by .38 Special
and Eddie Money.....

Geezer rock for all those geezer-glide riders? :rof

[toad]

Originally Posted by BillJ

Geezer rock for all those geezer-glide riders? :rof

What did Texas ever do for Rock and Roll?

One thing Texas did for this ole boy, was plant a seed of Texas Swing that grew into a boogie, and that grew into blues, and the blues grew into Rock. When I lived in San Antonio in the fifties a guy came around the neighborhood selling guitar lessons downtown. I was 11 years old and had a paper route, so I decided to take guitar lessons. They were steel guitar lessons and most of the songs were Texas Swing. Under the Double Eagle, Rose of San Antone, and also some Glenn Miller swing songs. I took lessons for three years, but in the second year they got a fellow to teach Electric Standard guitar, and he taught me how to play Hooonkie Tonk. I got hooked on that sound. Changed mylife forever.............still hooked, and I not going to do anything about it. Never went to jail because I was hooked on nock-n-roll. In my opinion, what ever that is worth, Texas has produced some of the best pickers in the world.


Back to the topic, Sharon you will enjoy the H.O.G. gathering. I am a member of H.O.G. also. Keep us informed about the gathering.

[Rarly Harley]

There'll never be another Stevie Ray...I sure do love his sound. I also love my geezer-glide, as my Brother Bill affectionately refers to Annie. Bill has a hard time keepin' up with Annie though, when I'm listnin' to "Texas Flood" and he don't have a prayer keepin' up if'n I'm listnin' to "She shook me all night long", neither does Brother Hammer....LOL
I have a sneakin' suspicion that Tony and Jazzed might be lurkin' in the bush, so to speak, so I'd best clamp my hole now, before I crow myself inta' trouble....LOL. My throttle hand is twitchin' somethin' awefull, but it's still snowin' and the temp is below freezin'.
Sharon, I hope you have a rip-roarin' good time at your first gathering. I hope you take some pics to post, so I can be there vicariously after the fact.....

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by toad

What did Texas ever do for Rock and Roll?

Start with Buddy Holly, and work your way forward from there. Freddie Fender (who was rock before he went country, and was rockin' again in the years before his death), Doug Sahm, Roky Erikson, the Armadillo World Headquarters, the whole Cosmic Cowboy scene, David Allan Coe (who rocks even when he's country), Stevie Ray, his brother Jimmy and Double Trouble, Joe Ely and Delbert McClinton, Los lonely Boys...

The more appropriate question might be "What hasn't Texas done for rock 'n' roll?"

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by Rarly Harley

I also love my geezer-glide, as my Brother Bill affectionately refers to Annie. Bill has a hard time keepin' up with Annie though, when I'm listnin' to "Texas Flood" and he don't have a prayer keepin' up if'n I'm listnin' to "She shook me all night long", neither does Brother Hammer....LOL

Hey, I'm a geezer, too, and now that I have a bagger in the garage I've even got the geezer-glide to prove it! I'm just pointing out that HOG is catering to its audience, and its audience tends to be a little grey around the edges, if'n you know what i mean!

[TonyB]

You guys are so funny man... When I first got my Streetglide my pops told me, "You are about 20 years too young to be riding that." Then he took her for a spin, came back and said, "OK... I'm with ya." This is the same guy that was on a FLH in his 20's!!
RH: I know what you mean about riding to what song you have on. When I'm riding with the wife I'm listening to CSNY. When I'm out with the bro's I'm listening to Motorhead. KWIM?
TB

[TonyB]

On another note... Yesterday I was over to the dealer ordering tires. They were busting my stones about not riding in. (We just got 4" of snow!) Spring is here, but summer is still a long way off. You TX guys are lucky as far as the WX goes. But, I'll bet is HOT HOT HOT in the summer!!

On X-Mas Eve I put 120 lbs of "icemelt" in the driveway so the old lady and I could get out scoots out. Rode a couple hundred miles that day. When we got home old lady's lips were blue!! But it was good to be ITW!
My chapter Ps name is Eskimo, and he comes by it honestly. He rides year round, snow or not... He's rollin!
TB

[BillJ]

Originally Posted by TonyB

You TX guys are lucky as far as the WX goes. But, I'll bet is HOT HOT HOT in the summer!!

Main reason I stayed in Texas all these years is our year-'round riding season. Unfortunately, all the really nice weather is happening right now, when I'm laid up from surgery and can't enjoy it. By the time I'm back on two wheels we'll be "enjoying" triple-digit humidity and near-triple-digit temperatures. We'll get to "enjoy" them all the way to October, too!