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.
This is a bit of a pity-party, but I hope I am learning from it.
I grew up on a farm and it was a rich and vibrant place- all sorts
of animals, fruit, hills and mountains; water too. There was something not quite right about my world and I found out more about that when i grew up. That was a shock at forst.. My escape route was books and often i would read a book a day. I was really good at school and should have done well. My grandma wanted to send me away to a city school. But I was made to go and tell her I did not want to go. That was a big betrayal of myself. Looking back the family finances weren't stretching too far. And if my grandma paid for my schooling she might have to come back and live with us. So I gave up this chance for my family.
I went to the village school. My favoutite teacher [there were only four] was called David and had red hair like me. But then he ended up in fail and one of the older girls ended up in trouble. Another teacher was called David and he worked as a hand onour place when he was a student. he was a lovely guy. He died when i was 17. he helped give me the goal to go away and be a lawyer. when he died the dream died with him.
When I left home I thought all would change. But I ended up in the city hanging roun' street corners for a few years. Ended up on a railway gang. It was similar to the work i had done back home. I ended up with some responsibility and found my feet as a man. At age 26 I headed home with my loaded truck. I wanted to sort my family out. Six years later I went to my first Alanon meeting.
Because of my background and my ongoing 'attitude' I ended up doing entry level jobs- working on sheep shearing gangs, orchard work and ditch digging. I had known people like this who had grown up during the great depression. And had missed out on their formal education. I loved the series about John-boy and the Waltons and dreamed I had a family like that!
You can tell by this that I love writing and have become okay at expressing myself. It wasn't always like this. It took time to build up confidence and trust. Last year I published a local history- I had worked with and met lost of our old-timers [in our community] and remembered a lot of the history. After the book came out I was asked to speak at a conference. Over time I have visited Fiji, Australia and the USA and learned a whole lot more about culture and history.
This summer I hope to be working on the mountain here patrolling an old water race. Time out to think and reflect, doing what I know best. I am gratefull to y'all for being here and listenin' to me. It means a whole damn lot!
Thanks David for the "get to know you". You're a Survivor and so am I. I love survivor stories cause they are sooo adventurous and coloful. Hope to listen more to your journey. Keep coming back. (((hugs)))
Nice to officially meet you. I know we have spoken often on the Step Work Board . I appreciate your posting here and sharing your program, thoughts and history.
Just wanted to thank you for the post about yourself. I too love to write and appreciate a good story teller! I too look forward to reading more of yours!
Yours in Recovery,
DavidS
-- Edited by david62 on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 11:18:13 AM
that I love writing and have become okay at expressing myself. It wasn't always like this. It took time to build up confidence and trust. Last year I published a local history- I had worked with and met lost of our old-timers [in our community] and remembered a lot of the history. After the book came out I was asked to speak at a conference. Over time I have visited Fiji, Australia and the USA and learned a whole lot more about culture and history.
