Other Folks on the Path

lovestory

The first time I meet him, 
I dress as a potted plant, 
and he is a ghost. 

He threatens me
with his warm beer,
and I tell him 
he is an annoyance,
and I turn and walk away.

The second time we meet
our friends exchange vows.

I mock him
for not eating his vegetables, 
and refuse to dance,
until my brother-in-law sweeps me away.

The third time we meet,
we walk in brutal winter wind
to a bar that is closed
after watching a matinee.

Then we walk on grassy ramparts
and imagine our children,
and I think I'm in love,
and he knows that he is.

Our friends' vows are broken.

Yet he and I are forever bound:
for better or for worse
for richer, for poorer, 
in sickness and health, 
as long as we may live.

2025.06.24

captive

I stand cloaked in dark illusion,
and you lean back in scorn, aloof.
Without need of absolution,
they dance within the light of truth.

In radiant joy, they glide away.
Enshrouded, we shall always stay.

2025.06.23/2025.04.12

Hello, my Beautiful Friends!

I just took a somewhat accidental nap. I decided to listen to one of my favorite spooky podcasts (THIRTƎƎN) and chill for a moment. I settled into a comfy chair, started the podcast, closed my eyes, and drifted off. It was a peaceful 45 minutes of rest, but now I will have to listen to the episode again, because all I remember is the setup. 

Today, I'm continuing the work I was doing in my office (cleaning and reorganizing) along with reviewing the systems I have in place regarding housework and financial maintenance. The latter obviously is part of my work for recovery from reckless spending.

I'm feeling secure in my sobriety and eating habits. And I'm working on those spending habits. I did buy a summer dress on Poshmark without previewing it with my husband, so I did break one of my spending rules with that choice. The cost wasn't excessive, and it's a brand I wear, so I think it will serve me well this summer -- fingers crossed.

I hope you find something beautiful in your day, and as always, thank you for being here.

Good Morning, you Beautiful People!

Look!  It's morning, and I'm checking in...just like "Morning Check-in" would indicate! It's like I'm the type who might color inside the lines--do not worry, I'm not.

Today's plan is a simple one: pick up the groceries, put away the clean linens, set up a weekly plan, and play with the planner I'm making for my purse.

I'm feeling confident in my sobriety, accepting my eating patterns, and continuing to learn how to change my spending habits and their consequences. Overall, I feel rather content about me. My current challenge is balancing my husband's recovery needs. Sometimes, what he wants isn't what he needs, and sometimes what he needs feels overwhelming. But I can do this, as long as I remember to turn to my support systems (which include SMART Recovery tools, AA fellowship, and some flipping amazing friends and family).

I hope you see the beauty that the Universe has planted in your life (sometimes, it's found in unexpected places), and as always, thank you for being here.

Hello, my Beautiful Friends!

I promise that I will not be posting a complete overview of my day...that would be hard to do anyway, since it's 3-something in the afternoon, and I never learned how to see the future.

Today has mostly been restful. I picked up the car and ran some errands, but I can't find the medhoney the doctor wants my husband to use on his nose (he had a boo boo from putting on his bipap mask incorrectly during his first days home from the hospital; he wouldn't let me help him). I no longer have an Amazon account, but my husband does, so that he can order it.

We had fast food for breakfast, then I casually bumbled around the house until it was time to get ready to go to the noon AA meeting I have been enjoying. As with all good AA meetings, the "meeting after the meeting" was just as good as the official first hour. I ran a few more errands, then picked up fast food again. And I'm fine with that.

This is where the "how my day went" monologue stops. I wanted to include it to share how I'm reacting to those two fast food meal choices: I'm totally fine with it. Was it the healthiest option? No. But it served my needs for today. I'm still feeling tired, and I don't want to cook or even think that much about food. The meals were pretty simple, and not supersized, and neither one of us finished all our food. Well, I did for breakfast. I didn't shovel down the food, or eat past feeling full, or regret the meal choice. It was lazy comfort food, and it served its purpose. I suspect that tomorrow my body will want something a bit healthier, and if I get hungry for dinner (lunch was late, so I might not), I can have another greens and berries salad. I'll play that by ear.

I'm feeling comfortable in my sobriety and my food choices, and I'm willing to do the work necessary to continue to make better choices regarding spending. I'm tired, but not depleted. In fact, it may be time for a Saturday afternoon nap.

I hope you are all finding something beautiful this Saturday, and as always, thank you for being here.