Responsibility Statement

I am sober but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm sane. Throughout my life, I can't remember ever having a desire to be socially acceptable or to act appropriately. (Well, okay, I'll act appropriate and/or socially acceptably for certain situations, but I'm talking about in general.) When I was boozin' and usin' my actions were hateful and harmful towards others and mostly malicious. Now that I'm sober, that part has changed (by the Grace and Mercy of the old HP) but I still tend to be drawn to the naughty or slightly scandalous stuff that causes me to giggle way down inside. So that's what I'm thinking I ought to write about today.

Alcoholics Anonymous has a "Responsibility Statement" that states: "I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that, I am responsible." Good stuff that speaks to our primary purpose of carrying the message to alcoholics who still suffer. And I do that whenever I get the opportunity, but when I'm out in the world with the people who are supposed to be 'normal' (and who decided what normal was anyway?) I apply this statement a bit differently.

When I encounter someone that seems to delight in ticking me off, I use the responsibility statement like this: (* indicates what my mind is thinking.)

I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help,

*Now, who would want to behave like this idiot? If they could see themselves acting so stupidly, I'm sure they'd want someone to stop them. They must be reaching out for help!

I want the hand of AA always to be there.

*In my minds eye, the hand of AA reaches out, wraps around the fool's neck and thoroughly chokes the stuffing out of them.

And for that, I am responsible.

Then I smile sweetly at them and try not to laugh.

Have a good and sober day.

We've arrived!

Ok! After getting all the kinks worked out and much e-mailing back and forth, we are ready to go with this new blog. For this I am very grateful. I've been attempting to cut down on my swearing and this hasn't helped the process. I'll keep you posted on the progress from here. It is good to be writing again and I'll be writing up the ideas sent to me in the next few days.

Tomorrow, I'll be going to Ohio for the funeral of one of the best men I've ever known. After fighting cancer for 10 years, he went home to be with his old HP. You know that saying?
To the whole world, you might be one person. But to one person, you might be the whole world.
This man exemplified that saying.

He had that unique gift of being able to make everyone he met feel they were special. Rather like he embraced each person with the honest feelings of love and was happy that he knew you even if you had just met for the first time. Everyone loved him but we all liked him, which is a much greater accomplishment in my opinion. Most people you love because you have to; it is almost a law! But to like sombody is a choice. This man had something in him that drew others to him, some type of magnet that pulled a happiness to the surface of me and you.

I understand wht the old HP wanted him to come home and I'm grateful this guy was a part of my family ever since I married my hubby, but I'm gonna miss him.

Have a good and sober day