The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Ok I had told ya's about finding a childhood friend and that I was Nervous about meeting her, because she was one of the Very Few "Kids" that were in my alcoholic home and seen and knew how my family worked... because her family was not far from the same...
WELL, I had put off calling her, and would just pop in on her FB from time to time and say Hi... Too nervous to hear her voice on the phone I suppose...Well after some encouragement from others, and love... I Decided that I would not "Act" until I "Felt" like it was time... Her Father is an Alcoholic as well & was best friends with my Dad all of my Life....
Lt. History: When My Mom & Dad Split ... I had never seen her again!! We had Alot in Common, we were Farm Girls, both the Middle Child of 3, Both Loved Horses, (She Got to Race them), and i truly admired her, because to ME, she looked like she had it ALL together...lol... (The Untold Lie)
Well Long Short of it!! I got a Text from her Last Friday (1st night of convention) and it said!!! "I Miss You & Need To See You! Can You Meet Me for Lunch, I'll be in Town at *This* time"... Well I was In Shock at 1st.. Because I knew i wanted to see how she was doing, but I didn't think she would be the 1st to make contact... :D Well... Next Came Sadness due to the fact that i KNEW i had the convention ALL weekend... So I waited about 2 hours b4 I responded... And Prayed on it, and decided... I REALLY Wanted to see her too, I Really wanted to feel a Piece of "Home" ...Like back in the day...
So I text her and told her when my "Lunch" was at the Convention, and said I could not wait!!! She text back & Picked a place 5 minutes from the convention (Were I had never been :0) and that was the plan for Saturday Lunch...
Well I was in the convention Trying Despirately to focus on the "Topic" in each meeting, I just get thinking... 27 YEARS since I saw her, I was 9 Years OLD when I saw her face last, yet she had such a Profound Meaning in my Heart... Even at such a Young age... And She "NEEDED" to See Me
I Promised myself when I left, that I would Not (1) Time look at my watch, because if there was something HP wanted me to hear at that Convention, he would make sure I got back there on time.. :0)
Well when I pulled in, I recognized her right away standing in the parking lot looking the oppisite directions from where I pulled... So when I got out of the car, I snuck up on her, and gave her the biggest Hug, And neither of us wanted to let go! I Mean it was like we were both too Little Girls again, gettin ready to race up the Apple Tree and Hide from our siblings...And the Rest of the world as we knew it...
Funny Enough, she lives in a town about an hour n half from my Home, and it is a place that my husband & I go at least once a year, to ride our Harley's so HP has given me yet another connection that I so Longed for...
We sat & ordered Pizza, and Giggled & Cried for close to 2 hours, we were gettin some pretty funny looks but we didn't even know anyone else was in the room... She was Always like me in a sense she liked her "Glass Half Full" and tho we talked about the bad times too, We both agreed we would not be who we are... With out ALL the times we had... She helped me remember "More" of the Happier times, and fun we had, Swinging off the rope at the crick, and running from the neighbors, and riding the horses, she really for the 1st time in a Very Long time for me, Made me Feel like I was "Home" ... Like I had finally got back, my one safe place to fall...
She is still just as beautiful as she always was to me, and just someone I can't thank God Enough, for bringing back into my life, tho we have been apart for 27 yrs, you never would have guessed it, "I" Never would have guessed it... That it would turn out being one of the most "Heart Shacking" Reunions I have had in a Really Long time...
She ask me what was my Saving Grace, and I told her "AL-Anon"... :0) She said she was happy for me, and that she is glad that I found the support I need to be OK with the past, and looking to the future.. I ask her what her Saving Grace was... She said "Moving away from all the Alcoholics" ...lol...
I always seen her as A Blessing From God above, when I was a child, and now I am Happy to Say... I Still Do! What a Gift I have been given... I Could not Ask for more :0) We plan to hook up again the next time she is in town, and we promised it would NEVER be... Another 27 yrs.... So Grateful to have her back in my life... Thanks HP... And Thanks All of You, for the Push, and for allowing me to be "Proud" of who I am instead of hiding under my O' So Firmilar Rock that I had come accustome too... I couldn't be more Grateful...
What a beautiful post ! I am beyond thrilled that your reunion went so well for the both of you! I had a simialar experience last year with my best friend from High School we had not seen each other in over 20 years she had no idea I had moved out of state. She searched for me high and low on the internet, every place she could think of. Then she found my name and address somewhere and sent me a lovely letter...talking about old times and how she had missed me all these years when she needed someone to lean on who would understand. She too was the first friend I brought into my insane household and we both shared the pain of addicted family members. So we first kept in touch online after that, then last summer we were headed back her way to see family. So we made plans to hook up. We were going to have lunch so made lunch plans then that idea somehow turned into me spending the night with her and her family. I was excited and terrified at the same time. All i could think of "what if she doesn't like me now". Well i got to her house, she came out and we too hugged for the longest time and shed a few tears. We stayed up most of the night catching up and it was like we were never apart. We were right back where we were 20 years ago. It was absolutly awesome and I even told her I was so afraid she wouldnt like me anymore. Now when I head out that way the plan is for us to always get together even for just a lunch. So I totally relate to your post... I was able to also sneak in a little lead for her to check out alanon lol. Don't know if she ever did but i figured I planted the seed. Again awesome post ! Blessings
Yes it truly was great :0) and Just wanted to let ya know ... That I Too Planted the "al-anon" seed, and told her if she ever was up this way and wanted her 1st one to be with me, I would be Honored to take her... Don't know if it will happen, but HP will work for her when she is ready, just like he did for me when I was... :0)
Thanks All For Being here, and Guiding Me on my Way :0)
