Updates

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since my last diary entry.  I had all that time off work (over 6 weeks) and where did the time go?  Recovery went smoothly, and in no time at all I was feeling my old self.  All 50 years now, as of March 6th.  It was disappointing as hell to not be able to follow through with plans to spend my 50th in Florida, but we’re holding the airline tickets for next March.  ‘Ts the best we can do.  I’m blessed to have such understanding friends.

While off I attended some Alanon meetings.  Our local meetings are quite small – maybe 8 or 10 members at the most, but I found out that I am not alone in this struggle, and when times get tough, there is always someone I can call.  The 2nd meeting I went to, I shared a particular struggle I have with my own situation.  It was something I felt was so sad and it felt like I was alone with this situation and with my feelings.  I think everyone spoke in one way or another about it, and one lady in particular shared that she had the exact same problem, and my jaw dropped.  My “unique” situation it seems is not unique, and now that I know this, I wonder how many other families are in the same situation.  Maybe this should not be a cause for this sense of relief, but it is.  To know that someone else shares my problem made it somehow more bearable.  After the meeting we talked quite a bit.  She had not gone to a meeting in quite a while, but for some reason, she felt compelled to go that night.    When she told me that all I could say was that everything happens for a purpose.  There are no mistakes, or accidents.  We both smiled, and she hugged me.

I have some coping skills now, and I have a support system.  I can’t get to meetings because of work.  There are not a lot of scheduled meetings during the week, and none on the weekend.  Now that I’m back, we’re working 12-hour shifts.  Sleep, eat and work is all I have room for right now.  Oh, but on Saturday there was time for garage sales.  It’s a therapy unto itself.  🙂 

The main thing is that I’m surviving.  Hopefully, thriving is right around the corner.

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April 25, 2004

I hope so. I hope everything good for you.

April 25, 2004

It’s good to see you posting again. Before I seperated from R, I went to a few Alanon meetings. I have never had any personal experiance with someone who is a alcoholic, and the support the group gave me was a life saver. It was nice you found a kindred soul at the meeting. Someone to lean on is always a good thing.

April 25, 2004

A friend with th same problem & desire to solve it is probably as much help as going to Alanon meetings. They have to do it themseself. Noone can do it for them. My son, after ~30 years, reached that stage & put himself with a methodone treatment center for drug/alcohol addiction. When I found out about it about a year later I took over the $250/ month. He’s a dependant from that & bad accidents

April 25, 2004

hope thriving comes very soon for you. ryn; thnk u. *cuddles n flowrs* take care love always xxx

April 25, 2004

I’ve been thinking about you and was so glad to find your note just now and then this entry. I’m glad you’ve found some support people in Al-anon. I guess since you’ve finally posted an entry, that means it’s time for me to do the same. My brain has been a little mushy lately. I guess that’s as good a subject as any. Smooches,

April 25, 2004

Fabulous for you! Glad to hear you are reaching out to the right crowd. 🙂 I put Mabel Ann on private and am not writing there. Now that I can do favorites only entries on Gemma, I see no need for two diaries. You are on my favorites list on Gemma, so you won’t miss out on anything. Hugs,

Good to see you here and good to see you are benefitting from the Al-Anon meetings. Seems like people are placed in our lives just at the time we need them there.

April 27, 2004

Welcome back to the w*rk world….I’m sorry you had to return. I think a 50 year old needs long vacations, maybe years 🙂 And I am so glad you have recovered so well. Also, you are doing such a good job taking care of yourself. Been thinking about you for quite some days lately. Glad it’s good news. xoxoxox

Know the story well about not writing for a month. My trip to dermatologist went well, and next week I am going to Illinois to visit family. Can hardly wait. Glad things are going well with you. Let me know when you are coming to FL, and where will you be? Maybe we could get together, who knows?

RYN: Palm info is added into either the PDA or onto the Computer Desktop and the programs sycronize ( update) each other. It is just a matter or downloading from one to the other. I am willing to bet that AlAnon Meetings can also be found on-line. It is great to find out we are not unique nor crazy either. ThomaS ( nsi)

I live in Orlando. Sure would like to meet you. Are you a nurse? My daughter is, and works 12 hour days.

May 2, 2004

Dang diary SAYS it saved my note…but I don’t see it…grrrr. Ennyhoooo – I’m down Tampa way when you get to FL – maybe we can arrange a meet? Glad you found some support and understanding – very important! Amazing to find that others share our stories, isn’t it?

June 9, 2004

Hey, I have been thinking about you for days, wondering how you are and hoping you’re okay. Was glad to see your note just now. That tells me at least that you’re still on the planet. Maybe before the summer is over, you’ll feel like posting an entry. Love, P.

PPM
June 11, 2004

Just passing through and trying to catch up……It’s been awhile. Hope you are thriving and surviving!!!

June 13, 2004

Hey gurl……….thinking of you mucho *hugs*

wishing you the best!!!! It does bring relief to know that someone else has/is going through the same thing.

I live in Orlando, where do you live? I had not written in my diary for quite a while because I was in IL, and upon my return busy with interviews after Reagan’s death. Read my entry. Later I will write my story of how he saved my life. What kind of work do you do? Are you a nurse? Know that they work 12 hour days because my girls are nurses. I have e-mail address Eagletypist@AOL.com.

ryn; yer, it has been a really long winter. hope your summer weather is better than ours, at the moment its rainy, windy and cold – but thats my favourite weather so i dont really mind. hope you’re well, and happy. take care and love always xxx

June 28, 2004

It’s better to talk about the problems here than keep them to yourself, Brenda. Am so afraid of becoming alcoholic like my dad I only have a drink or two when with friends. Another opportunity will be July 4 with daughter, mate, & the whole family clan at Galt, CA. That little town has a fireworks you wouldn’t believe! Music, courtesy of Canadian Jade Angel. Have to load it for each post, tho

September 19, 2004

I offer positive thoughts & prayers up for you & hope now that several months have passed that you have reached the thriving stage.

October 29, 2004

You are missed. Love and blessings,

October 31, 2004

thnks for the note. hope you are well, and everythings gd for you. take care. love always xxxx

doing well, thanks for asking. How are you?

November 6, 2004

It was good to see your note. Now, let’s see some entries!

November 12, 2004

Hey I remember reading this a long time ago. I hope you catch us up here soon on how life is treating you. I will be in Wisc with Hubs for Thanksgiving. My mom turns 75 on Thanksgiving day this year. We are going to surprise her. I hope you are well. I was delighted to see your name pop up tonight. Be well.

November 14, 2004

Your entry title is updates, HMMMM. Nothing new happening for you since April???? Lets us know what new with you.

November 14, 2004

*smooch*

November 18, 2004

Well, it’s good to know you’re still on the planet! I was hoping when I saw your note that maybe you’d written something here and it just didn’t show on my favs list. Silly me. But, I understand. I haven’t felt like writing either. “…head under ground..” 🙂 Hugs, P.

Yep it’s time to write an entry. lol lol I had forgot about the support I got here. It feels good to be back. I just hope I can at least make an entry once a week. I know I haven’t b/c I don’t want to delve deep into my mind. About the meds. Hmmmm Right now I can’t do without them. Not and be mentally straight. I do plan to go back to school I just don’t know when I will be strong cont’d

enough to do so. I did graduate and get my Associates. I need to finish up one more semester to get my short certificate in CJ and then start working on my BA in CJ. I do believe I am going to do it. Right now I am just having a very hard time making it day to day.

November 23, 2004

What cooks, Brenda? no post for seven months!!! Hope that errrant son hasn’t been giving you a bad time. Have a happy Thanksgiving Love, Bill, aka willy

November 23, 2004

Me again, with the info that your early diary name, BBe, is available. You don’t need the (2) anymore. (The diary is insensitive to case)