This past Wednesday, my F2F Al-Anon group had a pot luck.  It's always a great time and we end up with more folks than typical - so the more the merrier.  I have been the one who suggests them and have no problem putting together a sign-up sheet and sending out reminders - it's an easy process for me and I have time.

I love my home group and we are very good about using the traditions and principles in all our affairs.  I am well-known now as the foodie because I love eating (well known) and I'll try just about anything.  So - we were having great informal fellowship over our lovely pot-luck food and I was getting teased about my love of food....

We got to talking about more frequent pot lucks and about eating out.  I shared that this place has this special on Monday, and that restaurant has such-such on Tuesday, and was able to go through most of the days of the week...we were chuckling that I knew all this from memory and so I suggested any who wanted to meet up on Monday for $1 Tacos @ a near-by restaurant.  As we were discussing this, I realized Monday was also my birthday.

Here's were my 'isms' come in for me.  I immediately panicked as I thought it was very tacky of me to plan my own birthday party - even if it wasn't intended that way.  As I was pausing and processing, others noticed I went quiet (doesn't happen often) and someone asked what was up.  So - I told them - I do try to be honest always and Al-Anon is a safe place.  

I can tell you that there was instant glee and nobody said anything remotely like I was thinking.  Instead everyonI e was super excited that they would be celebrating my birthday with me!!!  This for me shows me how 'off' my own thinking can be.  No matter how much time I am in recovery and how much I try to put me first, I am still awkward at times and have self-doubt.  The beauty of Al-Anon is they genuinely accept me exactly as I am, know I had no false pretenses and are excited to be meeting up for tacos on Monday.

I still have more to learn, and I am grateful that in that moment, I shared my truth instead of saying, "Nothing is wrong."  These are the freedoms the program has gifted me with and these are the fellowship family I am proud to call my friends of today.

For those who plan to say Happy Birthday on Monday, I found out my white-board writing that I am humbled to share the date of my birth with another dear member here at MIP - Jerry!!!  He and I are 'brother/sister' through our shared birthday!  That gave me gratitude when I noticed as I truly am beyond humbled to share that day with him.

Lastly for those of you who know I am here often, I'm playing tournament tomorrow.  I won't be around as much as usual.  Have a glorious evening and a lovely Saturday!

(((Hugs))) to all!

Happy Birthday to you and to Jerry! Thank you for this share. The searching and fearless honesty that long-time members share is so valuable to me, and appreciate you talking through your thought process and how you chose honesty in this instance. And good luck at golf tomorrow!

Sis I will hold you in my heart on the 19th along with another recovering family member who I met on our birthday date and who was going into detox.  I didn't even know if she knew I was there.  Her sister dropped by my place of work so that I "could meet" someone she wanted me to meet.  We have birthdates and she has a sobriety celebration of 17 years...How awesome!!  I just had a M&M sundae and wish I could have shared that with you. 

I ask my Higher Power to hold you in his heart and intentions especially on the 19th.   (((((hugs)))))

I love alanon for all it offers and to the healing that
Takes place as we work on ourselves and get healthy.

I wish we had pot lucks the AA groups do around here.

Ours is a morning meeting and i can't see them doing
It at another time. There is not that type of closeness
In my home group.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONDAY and enjoy your tacos.

((((((((( IAM ))))))))))