Ale for the Soul

Alcholics Anonymous is a twelve-step group providing support and encouragement for breakfing free from the addiction of alcoholism.  Over the years, I have considered myself a member of this organization, specifically calling Southwest my home group.  This fellowship, especially as I gain significant distance from my last foray as an active drinker, has evolved to hold various meanings during the different seasons of life.  At this point, I mainly attend as a means to get out of the apartment for a bit and to meet my social needs.  Lately, I have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a semi-active role in the program due to disagreement with a few core beliefs held by A.A. in general.  Not in any particular order, I adamently disagree with calling alcoholism a disease and refuse to acquiese to the overarching view a member can define or create his/her own higher power.  Alcoholism is an addiction, not a disease.  It is a learned behavior and, qui...

On Friday, April 9th, I flew back to Fort Worth after about an hour layover in Denver.  (The last time I was in Colorado was in 1981.)  The Hawaii vacation came to an end as I was more than ready for a return to reality and routine.  The say there is nothing like sleeping in one's own bed is a sheer understatement and holds a lot of truth and validity.  Both my sister and I were pleased with the projects I completed during the stay on Oahu.  On a personal level, I was equally pleased with the places visited that I wasn't able to get to during the first visit in 2019.  Once unpacked and settled, I tied up a few loose ends, smoked two tobacco pipes, and watched a little baseball to unwind.  Then it was off to bed at 6:30 p.m.  Out of sheer exhaustion, I immediately fell asleep.  (Sleeping on a plane is a joke and didn't happen.)  More than likely, another good night's sleep is in order to begin feeling normal again.  This week will se...

Today marks two weeks I've been in Hawaii.  Visiting my sister has been good, but I must admit how much I miss Texas.  The Covid rules are much stricter here than they are back home.  Do people really not know how to think for themselves?  I am amazed at how dependent people are on the government for information and assistance.  (The general sense of entitlement should give clue to the sad state of affairs for the citizenry.)  Washington, D.C., does not have our best interest in mind as they are manipulating public sentiments and causing a vast majority to live in fear.  Enough of that as this entry is not intended as a diatribe about or indictment against our national political condition.  The time spent in Hawaii has been a good balance of work and play.  There have been chores and projects assigned, which I gladly take on in order to earn my keep.  The most physically active has been painting the trim and doors of the townhouse. ...

About two weeks ago my sister made an offer I couldn't refuse.  Since I wasn't gainfully employed, why not come out to Hawaii for an indefinite period of time?  Not wanting to make a rash decision, I consulted with a trusted adviser and gave her a decision two days later.  I gave her the green light to proceed in making arrangments for travelling to Oahu.  She purchased a one-way ticket rather inexpensively, helped guide me through the Covid testing requirements, as well as all the other government stipulated measures I had to satisfy, and offered support with any questions or concerns I may have had.  Admittedly, there were a few stressful times trying to get everything accomplished; however, Abba Father more than adequately provided for yours truly.  The main obstacle was getting the driver's license renewed.  Due to the pandemic, most businesses were on restricted operating hours or by appointment only.  The DMV was no exception.  Even tho...

On Sunday, a mutual friend informed of Amy Arnold's passing.  I was in shock, especially since she was only a year or two older than me.  Of course I asked for the circumstances surrounding her sudden departure from this ethereal plane.  In spite of knowing about a few of her health issues, I was still reeling from the news.  Over the course of the week, I finally processed what had happened.  Memories flooded my mind of our almost twenty-nine year friendship.  We first met in the Fall of 1992 at the Baptist Student Union on the campus of Victoria College in Victoria, Texas.  As we both moved to Houston at about the same time, we kept in touch throughout the years.  On occasion, we would make the trip to Victoria in order to visit with her Grandmother in Mission Valley, a neighboring municipality.  Not only am I grateful for the blessings Amy brought to my life, but also thankful she cherished our friendship enough to introduce me to her beau...

The brutal winter storm is roughly two weeks behind me, and I am so thankful for having survived without incident.  The only negative arising from the ordeal is I am out of a job once again.  Not being able to report to work was the cause.  I did contact the liquor store on two occasions during the week in question, but I decided to move on when it still looked like I couldn't make things work.  In all probability, the job could have been salvaged; however, I didn't want to keep stringing them along since I didn't have any hard answers for when I could eventually report back to work.  Public transportation is up and running again, but it is too little too late.  Honestly, the job wasn't worth keeping.  Other than having a steady paycheck, it was what I considered dead-end employment.  Besides, working in a liquor store isn't the best ideal for a recovering alcholic.  As I sit here typing this blog entry, I am at a loss for where to apply....

Penning this entry, I am very aware of the blanket of snow and ice covering the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  As much as I like and enjoy cold weather, Mother Nature can keep this kind of weather all to herself.  Ha!  As a result of the horrific winter storm the area is experiencing, I have found it impossible to report to work.  Before the snow hit, I was already finding mobility difficult as bus drivers were not showing up to run their routes.  Last Saturday evening I had to improvise getting home as both the 9:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. buses were a no-show.  Thankfully I was able to catch another bus that dropped me off within a half-mile of the apartment.  The short hike back home was a cold one but could have been made worse if the wind had been whipping.  In addition, I gave the store manager of the liquor store advanced warning that Sunday's predicted snow storm already called into question my ability to report for the scheduled shift on Monda...