Hello Everyone!
Survived the Gratitude Dinner. It was super. I relaxed all day and took naps and read and got there at 5PM to help cut the cake and didn’t have to do that. Russell had a whole crew there picking up and cleaning up and cutting the cake and it was wonderful. I didn’t expect all of that, but what a nice thing to have them pick up the plates and junk off of the tables. (Can you tell I liked the “picking up” thing? Throw back from the Restaurant Business). The evening was a success. Raised over $1200 on the 50/50 and Vivian won it (Bruce McDaniel’s girlfriend). It’s always nice if they “hand it back” to Intergroup (like at the Corrections Picnic) but we should be happy with $600. We started doing the 50/50 a few years back. It had not been done before because they thought it caused chaos, but it’s a money maker and now it’s always done. Last night there was a violinist in honor of Steve. It was difficult to hear him and I kept thinking about it last night and it just seemed that he was “tuning” up and not “playing” as background music, but I was distracted in conversation so I’m not sure about that. There was a little trio there, a harp, a viola and a violin. All three sisters (The Brown Trio). Hyacinth, Rose and some other flower. They ranged in age from 14 to 8. Very talented. With all of the noise in the room we couldn’t hear them as they played, but Gary had a 10 minute slot for a performance. They were really great and I kept thinking how cool it was that everyone listened attentively. The room was quiet and respectful and people seemed to enjoy it! Anna was there and it was nice to see her out. Gary did a nice job of honoring Steve since he had been on the committee. He had Don P read the “blessing” that Steve had written for the Gratitude Dinner. Anna found it in his things while sorting through things after his death. It was a nice moment. I’m sure Steve was looking down, pleased at the evening. Still miss him! But his BLOG lives on!
VIOLIN 2 From 4th Dimension Blog by Steveroni
THIS IS HOW WE LIVE AND LEARN…
or is it “learn…and LIVE?”
–a short story. Young man came into a meeting last night, his first in three weeks! Always the “quiet one”…sober a couple months. He sat there for the hour meeting and he who never says a word, began to speak:
“I listen to what you people tell me, but…two nights ago I had dinner with my girlfriend. SHE ordered for herself a margarita, and for me a nice Lowenbrau (beer). I stared at the bottle of beer for how long I don’t know, was ready to reach out and quell my fire, when I heard the words.
“It was a story in our Big Book, about a sober guy who felt so strong, and “healed” that he ordered a scotch to dump into his milk. Then one more, because the first went down fine. He was found three weeks later in a trash can in New York…and woke up in a hospital.
“Few sentences after that story was a line which read, ‘An alcoholic…will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge…’
“Well, I want you people to know I thought about all that, and just reached out and pushed that beer away.” (End of story)
Some will know of what I write. Others will not but I experienced a strong pushing feeling to get it out there on my blog. It’s called “live and learn”…I call it “learn…and LIVE!” (I did!)
(NOTE: I’ve changed a few facts to avoid copyright problems, and breaking of anonymity, but the conversation is intact.)
–steveroni
May 13, 2015
Also last night I think a “new tradition” was born. Tracey sang “Amazing Grace” a cappella. Wow! That was AMAZING! She changed it up a little, but her voice was wonderful and it was a beautiful ending to a great evening. I think there were probably over 350 people there last night. I’m going to go back into my records and see the numbers from years past. Be right back.
2006 – 394, 2007 – 457, 2008 – 407, 2009 – 425, 2010 – 422, 2011 – unknown (Tee Shirt Year), 2012 – 327,
2013 – 351, 2014 – 298 and in 2015 – over 350 (Gary kept track).
So the Gratitude Dinner is a wonderful thing. I’m glad it’s over. I got to “read” the Traditions and that was nice. Bill S complimented me on doing our Intergroup Website. That was a nice surprise.
We have some good news in that The New Attitudes Club now has a new location. I’m glad about that. They lost their location a couple of months ago and now Bruce McDaniels has been trying to find a location for it ever since. It’s hard to find an affordable place. He announced last night that they found a place on 41 at the entrance to Sugden Park. I’m going to drive by there to see where it is. I think I might start going there. It is closer than the Serenity Club, but I like the people at the Serenity Club and I should get involved there. I’m not feeling that The Naples Group (2 meetings a week) is enough for me. Now that I’ve weened myself off of The Gratitude Dinner, I think I like working with the groups at The Serenity Club. I especially like the Sisters by the Sea group. I’m hoping Jona will chair it again this year. She does such a great job and I love her sweetness and calmness. I love working with Tracey too. What a talent! So, we’ll see, there are ample opportunities. I’m sure it will work out as it should.
Time to get rolling. Thanks for visiting! Have a beautiful day today!
Steve & his violin
