Easter Sunday 2009

Happy Easter!!! Wow, it is Easter again. It seems like just yesterday that I was spending the day by myself without my family last year but thankfully this year all of that has changed for the better. This marks the very first “holiday” of my new found “freedom”. I was free to go anywhere as I did not need permission. Yes, this is a great sign but really my life is fantastic and now life has moved into a wonderful “new” normal. Today waking up with my family under one roof was indeed the highlight of my day; the rest of the day was just like the icing on the cake. I cannot say enough how well my life is moving and it is all thanks to recovery. This recovery is multi-faceted but the main ingredient is living my life with a positive purpose doing the right thing no matter the circumstance. I am eternally grateful for my life and for everyone in my life especially my family. I love my family with all my being and yes, life is great.

This past week started last Sunday as I attended the Sunday Gamblers Anonymous meeting. I can no longer attend four or five meetings a week when I first entered the program over four years ago. Now I do my very best to honor my commitment of attending one meeting per week. This week was the “in between” week of the Speaker’s meeting and which meant there wasn’t a Speaker’s meeting so I needed to attend the Sunday meeting which was wonderful. The meeting was once again inspirational and there are so many dear friends in this program. I am very blessed to be in the position I am in all thanks to the GA Program. Yes, I returned to the area of my misdeeds but this has not been an issue at all again all thanks to recovery. This was a great start to the week.

On Tuesday my son had a baseball game and what a game he had! He had his best game in his brief Pony League career going three for three, knocking in three runs, and scoring three runs as well. Additionally he did make a great defensive play as he fielded a pop up sliding to catch the ball from his catcher’s position. Yes, it was a great game through and through. His three hits were two doubles and a single. In his league if the pitcher throws four balls the coach comes out and throws two pitchers, the batter either hits one of those two pitches or is out.

My son did receive four balls on those three at bats and he drilled a double off of me in his first at bat. This was the first time I was the “pitching coach” and not only did he drill that double the rest of his hits came off of me as well. I was shocked at that first double because it wasn’t very far from the outfield fence. My son seemed energize to hit off of his dear old Dad and whatever the case he was a fantastic game. His team was victorious and is approaching .500 on the season.

The rest of the week was the usual with the exception of on Thursday I took my son to work. The children are off for Spring Break and with my daughter sleeping over a friend’s house and with our dear friend away who had been looking after our children while my wife and I were at work; we decided to take my son to work. He was so good keeping himself occupied on the computer, with a book and with his electronic game. I was able to go about my normal day with my son a few feet away. The day went very well and after lunch I dropped him off at my wife’s work where she had only an hour left in her day. It was very cool taking my son to work and I had to smile each time I looked over to him.

I continue to train for the marathon in less than two weeks. I completed the intense sessions this week and my mileage had peaked at 56 miles this week. I modified the training sessions to suit my needs much better covering that distance in only four days instead of five. This meant I had three 12 mile days and one 20 mile days. If I had to compare this most recent 20 mile run to the 20 mile runs I have completed in the past 8 months I must say this was the best run I have had to date. I ran the first 10 miles in one hour and 15 minutes and covered the final 10 miles in less than one hour and 10 minutes. This is exactly what I had planned and I was feeling as good as I have ever felt in that last mile than I have ever felt before. I was moving along great and it is simply amazing how fast time slips by as the miles pile up. I don’t know if this will translate into my finally qualifying for the Boston Marathon but I am giving it my all.

Rounding out the week was of course Easter today. As I mentioned earlier the joy came early this morning and as always lasted all day long. We did the usual Easter things in going to church and going to breakfast but for the most part it was a very low key day. I did fit in watching some of the Masters Golf Tournament and for the first time viewed on a High Definition Television and my goodness that course is gorgeous. In any event after watching we headed for the beach. It was a perfect Southern California day and the beach was the perfect place to be. The children went on a few rides and we played on the beach. My son and daughter were having a good time and my son brought much of the beach home with him!! Yes, it was a great Easter Sunday 2009!!