Thursday, October 16, 2008

Geographics

October 16 - You cannot move away from something, because it will chase you all over hell and back. Therefore, resist not temptation--but simply turn from it. Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 1, Page 104
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Hey, alkies - how the hell are you. The above quote sounds to me like a warning about geographics. Who'da th0ught. Now when I sat down to do tonight's blog, I did not have a topic or know what I would write. And then I did my daily quote from CWG and Voila. SO, Back in the early 60's I did a geographic just about every 90 days to 6 months. Usually because I had to move because of non payment of rent or I lost a paying roommate and could not afford the apt by myself. Of course the fact that the roomies probably moved because of my drunken rages never even entered my mind until I got sober and my first sponsor had me do an autobiographic 1st step about how I was powerless over alcohol and the effects it had on my life. When I had to take in my Mother, the moving came to a screeching halt. Well almost.
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We were in the townhouse about 3 - 4 months when we got an eviction notice. Not for non-payment but for excessive noise after hours. I had a group of friends over after the bars closed at midnight and they had gathered at my door waiting for me and we all know how quiet drunks are. NOT. Anyway the neighbors complained to the management and the guy came and told me to quiet down there had been complaints. Ok, so I turned the music down, but opened the patio door for the smoke to clear. Again, here came the manager. This time he said he could here us at his apt. which was about 1/4 block away. I told him to F off, I paid my rent and we were not doing anything illegal. We argued and I told him ok. But he had really pissed me off. So I went out on the balcony. and yelled at him as he left the townhouse court - Mary, don't you fucking come back again. Blah blah blah. Well the next day we got a letter of notice to vacate. I appealed, apologized and guaranteed him it would not happen again. Didn't work. So we moved into a duplex in the upper apartment. This was a great place. It was 3 blocks from work, and was $55.00 a month cheaper. We did not have carpet, just hardware floors. No rugs either. The "old lady" downstairs complained about Mother walking in her heels around in our apartment. This did not go over well. Then she complained to the owner who lived in New Braunfels. We go a letter to please try to be considerate of Ms. Branard. Then she complained that we used the backstairs. Mother and she had a scream fest. She and I had a scream fest. (Both fests were alcohol induced - Mrs Branard was a church going Baptist)We got another letter from the owner asking to please vacate within 30 days or she would file for eviction. This time I got a house. That took care of that problem. Then I was offered a promotion and relocation to Los Angeles. I grabbed it. I just knew that the move would take care of all my problems. To make a long story short, none of the moves took care of them. They followed me everywhere I went they went. Finally in January 1992 I got sober. I learned about geographics. I learned about the disease being ever present 24/7. Then when I did my 1st step as my sponsor requested I saw it all in black and white. It's hard to argue with black and white proof.
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Yes I have moved during my 16 and change years of sobriety, but I have not been running from anything. I have the one and only sobriety date of 01-20-2008. I have been blessed in that and can tell you that it works if you work it. That's not lip service. I mean go to meetings, have a sponsor, do the steps, continually be present in your recovery, be of service, and take direction. It is amazing how following the suggestions of the Big Book work. It just does not get any better than that.
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Tonight I am grateful for:
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God, My Higher Power.
My Sobriety.
Mamie, my schnauzer.
My Sponsor.
My fellow bloggers.
Today I celebrated Joe's 67th birthday with lunch with him.
Serenity
Tomorrow is double dip day. (Two meetings)
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Y'all be pretty now, ya heah.

6 comments:

Scott W said...

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Take Fritos with you today.

dAAve said...

I'm glad you got sober this past January.
I would love to see your hardware floors at that old apartment.

J-Online said...

I'be been known to run from my problems BIG GRIN AS YOU KNOW WHO WOULD SAY. I still am to some degree but am learning to face them head on, day by day. It's a good feeling most of the time.

Akannie said...

Lordy, Nancy..and I thought no one else moved as much as I did !!

I was sooo taken by the movie Chocolat when the narrator talked about the old North Wind and time to move, AGAIN...I always felt that way...and only that I was having ADVENTURES...not geographics. lol

I always have my new sponsees do that time line/autobiography too...it's the thing that showed me the unmanageability of my life and the progression of my alcoholism...in black and white.

Have a fantastic weekend, my friend.

Zanejabbers said...

oooops! mY SOBRIETY DATE IS jANUARY 20, 1992. tHANAKX DAAVE.

Zanejabbers said...

AKANNIE, THAT IS WHAT MY SPONSOR SAID ABOUT THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY. IT SURE WORKED. GLAD TO KNOW IT WORKED WITH SOMEONE ELSE.