House Quest

I have a weekly conversation with my sponsor and sometimes like this week it happens twice in one week. Normally we speak with one another on Sunday evening which was just like our correspondence when I was in prison. We would write to one another each Sunday so now it only made sense to have our telephone conversation on the same day. Yesterday I decided I needed a “dose” of my sponsor’s wisdom which is why I called. Our conversations are always very good and usually center on recovery/Gamblers Anonymous.

My sponsor just celebrated his 18th year associated with GA and those have been a very full 18 years. My sponsor has held many positions in the fellowship and has incredible knowledge of recovery. He had a similar experience to mine spending some time in prison due to crimes committed to propel his compulsive gambling addiction. Thankfully to GA and essentially recovery he has not place a wager of any type in the past 18 years. This is wonderful and although his life has had its ups and downs in that time life is better in recovery.

I learn and continue to learn so much from my sponsor and our conversation yesterday evening was no exception. I told him all about my current situations and as always he lent a very empathetic ear. He wisely stated that these aren’t “problems” in a grand sense rather “inconveniences”. Of course I agreed and thankfully I don’t view anything as a “problem” because over the past three years my perspective has grown larger as to what is important. Sure I would have loved to have the plans that were in place happen but as life goes it just wasn’t meant to happen. I know everything will continue to work out for the very best and listening to my sponsor’s wisdom most certainly is a great help.

At my first meeting my soon to be sponsor sat directly across from me and although we had never met I felt a very deep connection almost immediately. I keep this very deep connection to this very day yes, we are now separated by distance but he is always just a telephone call away. I am eternally grateful to my sponsor and for all of his wisdom. I know the program works as evidenced directly from my sponsor.

I always feel great when I speak with my sponsor and I do look forward to our conversations. The conversation was over and I returned home for the evening. It wasn’t the usually Saturday evening watching the “Suze Orman Show” and “Deal or No Deal” with my dear friends as sickness spread over the house. My good friend wasn’t feeling so well and I was relegated to watching these programs by myself. It wasn’t the same because normally there are always “smart” comments by one of us during the program and it really doesn’t work with only one person. My Saturday evening’s with my good friends are coming to an end as my family will be here very soon. These Saturday evenings have been very palatable all thanks to my friends.

That was the extent of my Saturday evening and I went to sleep. I was up early (for a Sunday) because I had some houses to see after I worked out. I woke up and my lower back along with my abdominals were very sore. I did an exercise for my lower back that I don’t normally do, yesterday and as I was performing the exercise I knew instantly that I would be sore today, sure enough I was very sore this morning. The same could be said of my abdominals as I did a different exercise which caused the soreness. In spite of the soreness I headed to the gym for a workout. I got in a very good workout and I even ran 12 miles with a defective running shoe. The running shoes I specifically purchased for the marathon and the same running shoes which I really like seemed to have “broken down”.

The back part of the shoe has collapsed almost as if someone had given me a permanent “flat” as the shoe hasn’t come back to its original shape. The shoe maybe defective but it is still useable. The shoe just doesn’t feel as snug but I still ran the 12 miles. I have tried to fix the shoe but can’t seem to get the back of the shoe the way it was originally. I have written the shoe company because I have only had these shoes for the past 30 days and yes, I have done a great deal of running in these over that period but the shoes shouldn’t break down so quickly. Anyhow I still managed to get in a very good run and it was the most I have run since the marathon. I finished and made my way to the “housing quest”.

I vividly remember when we moved here 7 years ago from Las Vegas and looking for a house. My wife and I looked seemingly everywhere for a house but had a difficult time finding the right house then after going down a road we never had been boom there was our house. Well in the past 7 years there has been plenty of building in the area and there are many more houses to choose from. I looked at three houses to rent today and each house was very nice and very reasonable. It appears my timing from exiting the real estate market to my time re-entering the real estate market could be very good.

The first house I visited was not far from where we used to live and has a very convenient location to our children’s school. The people who own the house seem very nice and I felt very good about the house and the owners. The second house was a little farther away and wasn’t as nice as the first house. The third house was beautiful but it is pushing the upper end of our budget and we really don’t need that large of a house.

There is a house only a few blocks from our children’s school which I had called on yesterday and again today. The house appears to be in good shape and the price is also reasonable, I am just waiting for a call back so I can visit the house. I did like the first house and the timing seems right and I am sure it will all work out for the best. After the “house quest” I had lunch with a very good friend and I spoke about my “house quest” and was advised that what I had seen seemed like a very good deal and I should take it. I do believe my friend is correct and I will wait one more day for a call back on the other house before committing to anything.

The day ended with the Sunday evening GA meeting which was a very special birthday celebration for a very good member celebrating their 4th year in the program. This member was there at my first meeting and is always on point during the sharing session. GA is an incredible program it is wonderful to see how people progress through the program. I have yet to see a person who was upset at their birthday celebration and as always this is a perfect example of how great the program is. The birthday celebration was excellent and a good way to end a very good weekend.