AWESOME EVENING!!!!

Today was made possible by two very dear friends of mine. A few weeks ago I wrote about possibly taking my son to a Major League Baseball game. We never made it to that particular game for a variety of reasons one being cost; however; today these dear friends of mine made it possible for not only my son to attend a Major League Baseball game but also our entire family which includes my wife and daughter were able to attend the game. I woke up with great anticipation for two reasons this morning. The first reason was the aforementioned baseball game and the second reason was this would be my last day with my current employer.

Normally I would have given my current employer a two week notice however; this position I have taken ever since I was release turned into more of a “volunteer” work rather than a normal paying job. I thought I would have to struggle through the early months in hopes of things turning round. The case was the opposite because there was some remuneration in the early stages but not very much in the later stages. I would have very much liked this position to have worked out since my boss is a very nice person but unfortunately I have a family to provide for and I do need a paying position. Thankfully through recovery I have found a wonderful opportunity which I commence next week and it is a place I have envisioned myself working even prior to my incarceration.

It is so amazing how things continue to work out for the very best. Prior to my sentencing I was offered a very good job at the Las Vegas Recovery Center but I was not able to take that position because of the sentence. While I was planning for my release I once again had the opportunity to work for this company but couldn’t take it because I am relegated to the state of California for the next 7 months while I serve parole. The position I am starting next week is for a company very much like the company in Las Vegas in fact the foundations are identical in so many ways. The position I will be starting next week is very different than the position in Las Vegas and I am excited since it is very different from what I have done over the years.

I will be entering the “sales” field and really there isn’t much selling as opposed to networking and just getting the information out. The company I am starting with is called A Better Tomorrow and I had done an interview prior to my sentencing from their offices and that interview brought at least three other compulsive gamblers into treatment and quite possibly more. I believe it was my goal to get my story out there in hopes of helping at least one person and it did do what was intended. Now I get to go out in the community and make the greater community aware of the recovery center and the services provided. Hopefully; I will be able to be of service for those in need of assistance. I am not so much selling a product; I am providing a service which will help people in the long run. This is very exciting and I will do my best.

I must admit I have not done my best work over the last few weeks as my morale was very down with my present employer. This is entirely on me because that was my choice and I admit this wasn’t the best decision. I tried to snap out of it but as things got worse in the office I became less motivated as the days passed. I have met so very good people in the office and at least one of them will be moving on with me in the coming weeks. I feel so bad for my current boss because things aren’t so good and the prospects of things coming around aren’t so good. This is so sad since so many people are going to be affected from the employees to the clients. I know that whatever happens it will be for the very best and I wish everyone the very best.

The day ended without much fanfare but there were a few hugs. I have learned a great deal in the last six months and this is exactly how it is intended for me. Without this opportunity I wouldn’t have had the next opportunity and I won’t forget what I have learned. I guess this is how life works when one window closes or as I have read; “when God closes a window He opens another”. I do believe there is a grand design to all this “madness” and I am enjoying each and every day one moment at a time.

The day and thus my brief tenure came to an end without much fanfare but with much happiness. I went home to gather the family so we could attend the Los Angeles Angels baseball game. The stadium is a little less than 60 miles away from our house but these 60 miles can take up to two hours because of the traffic. However; we were going against the traffic and it only took an hour to get into the parking lot. Everyone in the family was jazzed for the game and we looked like displaced fans as my daughter, son and I were wearing New York Mets shirts and New York Giants hats. We didn’t have an extra shirt for my wife so she went with the basic white shirt. We didn’t realize it was the week to the wear red to the stadium so we certainly looked out of place.

Looking out of place didn’t bother my son but my daughter was a bit self conscience hiding her Mets shirt with her baseball glove. In fact she made (it didn’t take much arm twisting especially when I see the look on my daughter’s face!) us purchase her an Angel’s shirt which she quickly changed into. As things turned out my son is on the Angel’s Little League team but didn’t receive his shirt just yet or we would have fit in!!! Anyhow we made our way to the seats which were very good seats. We came with food in tow because bringing food into the stadium is allowed but bringing in drinks is not prohibited. We came to find out later that bringing drinks in boxes such as juice boxes is allowable which would have saved us some money. This really didn’t matter because we had a GREAT time at the game.

The last time I was at a Major League baseball game with my family was 4 years ago as we watched the San Diego Padres play the New York Mets at Petco Park in San Diego. A great deal has changed in four years and all for the very best. Four years ago my eyes were fixated on the scoreboard wondering which of the many baseball games I had wagered on were going to win or lose. Today there was none of this and I was certainly in the moment.

We were Angel’s fans for the evening and what a great game it was. The Angels trailed 5 to 2 entering the bottom of the 8th inning and scored five times to win the game 7 to 5. My daughter was more into the game than my son and was watching every pitch in that 8th inning. She cheered along with everyone else and it was so cool. My son was more concerned with his next “snack” which consisted of a ham and cheese sandwich, peanuts, ice cream, chocolate chip cookie and a pretzel. It is amazing how much this little person eats but he is always in motion so he burns whatever he eats so quickly.

I planned accordingly and departed as the ninth inning started hoping the Angels closer would indeed close out the game. I was correct in this decision as we arrived at the car as soon as the game ended. We beat all of the traffic and an hour later we were home. It was a WONDERFUL evening with WONDERFUL family moments. My dear friends made this all possible which is another awesome benefit of recovery. What an incredible day and life is indeed AWESOME!!!!