I attended an Al-Anon birthday meeting last night. It was the first Al-Anon birthday meeting I've been to, and actually, it was really very small because at least on this side of the island, the region really hasn't set up any official regular birthday meetings for members like AA does.

So, my sponsor decided to set one up at least for her sponsees and just invited our own related group of sponsors/sponsees.

In any case, it was really nice. I got a chance to hear the whole story of two members whom I've seen off and on at meetings but not very often, and not often enough to know the whole story. I think that's the case with many of us - we share only bits and pieces of ourselves in our regular meetings - and I think that's appropriate because if everyone was there to tell their whole story we'd be there all night!

It was great, though - and inspirational. It was both their first birthday and it was great hearing how far along they've both come.

It was a fun evening - we had a potluck beforehand, and my sponsor made huckleberry pie (she's got a connection on the mainland for obtaining huckleberries).

We're going to try to continue on with the tradition of birthday meetings, at least in our own little sponsor/sponsee group, but one day we'd love to see it extend out so the entire region here sets up regular birthday meetings for all Al-Anon members to share in.

In any case, I sure hope I've come along that far when my "birthday" comes around. I've got a long ways to go... but I have the rest of my life to work at it, so there's no rush, either.