Fall Festival 2008

Today was a very big day for my wife as she had her first official interview since she returned from New Jersey. We have been searching for a job but in this very unstable economy many of the opportunities were a long drive away. This really didn’t make any sense financially because even with the “falling” (when did $3.25 a gallon gas become cheap???) price of gas we would be losing money with these jobs not to mention all the time and stress involved. This interview was local and was arranged by a very good friend. This is the same opportunity that didn’t work out a few months ago but as things go what is meant to be will be. I don’t want to put the “cart” in front of the “horse” but things did go very well. The words, “perfect” and “just what we have been looking for” were mentioned so we shall see and say a few prayers along the way as well!!

Life is all about connections and I have made incredible connections in the past three plus years. Even my life on the “inside” I made a connection which will hopefully last a lifetime. I do believe in the “Law of Attraction” where like attracts like and it shouldn’t be a surprise I found likeminded people while I served my time. I continue to meet likeminded people in and out of recovery and as long as I walk the walk life will continue on its wonderful path.

I took the day off from the gym because I had a few things I needed to do for work this morning and I wanted to see my off as she embarked on her interview. I love my wife so much and I want nothing but the best for her. I screwed up yet she has been there for me every step of the way and the least I can do is return the favor. This wasn’t very much seeing her off on her interview and hearing the results after it was over but I really want to be there for her. Someone mentioned to my wife that they were very proud of her for staying with me through all of this and I too am very proud of how my wife has handled the past three plus years. Hopefully all goes well and she gets a job offer because I think it will be good for everyone involved; life does move mysteriously but there is so much joy in this mystery.

The day moved along very well and I was once again outside of “my office” and at the “real office”. I found myself in the room where the lifeblood of the business sits. I work for a recovery center and there are two distinct aspects of the business. The first aspect is the sales end or getting the clients in the door and the second aspect is the treatment of the clients where new lives are hopefully formulated. This is no “chicken and egg theory” because without the sales end there are no clients to service so getting the clients in becomes extremely important.

The company has formulated a great sales plan and I sat in that room this morning doing something unrelated to what was happening on the telephones. We receive over 6,000 phone calls a month from people searching for help. This could come in the way of “where is the nearest AA meeting?” Or where can I go to get help for my addiction? Those are the calls that the business is built on and there are so many people in need of assistance.

I sat there and sort of overheard some of the conversations and it seemed that mostly family and friends of the addicted person were calling. This does make sense because the addict much like me is in constant denial where the loved ones are the collateral damage. The trick becomes getting the addicted person to in the door for treatment and even when they arrive keeping them in treatment is sometimes a chore as well. However; those who do stay find another way to live and as long as they remain in recovery life is astonishing.

This evening was the Fall Festival at our children’s school. I hadn’t been to this annual event in two years and it has come a long way in that time. This was a festival complete with many activities for the children and a wonderful silent auction to raise money for the teachers. In these uncertain economic times the poor school districts have been hit hard and when the teacher has to pay for their own copies it is a sad state. The Fall Festival has been designed to raise money and we donated our part as we bid on a basket with our dear friends. We garnered a “family fun” basket complete with 2 for 1 go cart racing tickets, free miniature golf, a few gift cards to local restaurants, a baseball mitt, football, Frisbee and “hydration system”. This was a good purchase and the money will be put to good use. Everyone had a wonderful time and it was great to let the children “run free” as we hung out with our dear friends. It was a great way to end the week and the event was a great deal of fun!!