Hello Richard :)

Wow! Long time no chat :)  I am so happy to hear about your son's continued progress. It gives me hope for my daughter. She is doing so much better than when you and I first met. She is having her current struggles and her recent relapse at 21. She is up in Canada with me at my parents cabin which is so wonderful! She hasn't been here since 2000. The reason being is the last time she was here she was not yet into her disease progression or with the ex-boyfriend who as of today sells meth and who knows what esle! He lives in another city which is good for all of us.   She also has a new boyfriend who will be in North Dakota Friday. I have a feeling they will be moving in together soon too. That seems to be my daughter's pattern and she seems to be repeating them again. Oh well, Progression not Perfection. I am learning to like this guy too. :)

I feel like I finally have my daughter back. She is not the same person as she was in the year 2000, but she is more herself than ever. I see a young 17 year old in her and I see an older woman who has learned alot of lifes's lessons of that of a 50 year old. She is very wise in some ways and very young in others. I said the serenity prayer so many times yesterday when we were traveling together yesterday and I must say it did help me alot. Especially when she dinged my car door twice at the gas station and left the gas cap off. I am learning that those things were minor comparred to losing her to the disease again. And I know she will always be an alcoholic/drug addict, recoverying one hopefully. I am able to seperate myself from her as a friend instead of her mother most of the time :)  My parents whose health is not well are enjoying having both of us here. We all went to the casino last night. It was my daughter's first time at a casino and her grandmother let her use $15.00 for machines.  I was happy to see that my daughter didn't seem to get a high out of it and she seemed more like me. Hesitant to use any money to stick into the machines and content just trying it for fun. Oh and we both used mom's casino Canadian money :)  I took pictures of her and my parents in front of the slot machines for memories sake :)  If you haven't been reading my emails, my mom is suffering from alzheimers and apparently the recent doctor appointment showed she is getting worse quicky :(  My dad is in congestive heart failure but does pace himself and seems content watching and visiting people while he has to sit. I am enjoying talking to both my parents about the past and present too. This is a new struggle in my life now too since they recently moved back to North Dakota to be closer to me. I am so grateful for the 12 steps as I am using them with this recent challenge for me too.

Well, as debilyn said, how are you? What is going on in your life? How are your cats? I talk about my daughter's kitten online alot LOL I still talk talk talk and type type type. My health is the same, no better , now worse. How is your health. Hope to hear from you soon. Your longtime friend and friend in recovery, cdb :)

Hi Richard,

Great to hear from you again. I miss your pointed comments.

Nancy

Hi Richard,

It is good to hear from you and I am glad to hear that your son is doing well.

I hope you are enjoying riding your bike in this wonderful summertime weather.

                                                          Love Jeannie