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.
Please permit me to leave this message of hope to a recovering brother who passed just recently...we shared all of our recoveries...everything...both programs to help us gain and maintain our serenities and sobrieties. He was a family member dropped into our community by his higher power for his benefit and then ours also. I will always be grateful along with the groups.
"Was messaged by Tom your brother that you had passed beyond our physical barriers and was saddened to hear it. You and Bonnie are great recovery family and so many of us enjoyed your Experience, Strength and Hope; your recovery when you lived amongst us and then left. Actually you have never left brother as long as we have memory. The fellowship learned that it wasn't alcohol or drugs that took you out and then none of us questioned that it was. We were deeply affected that you received your 21st anniversary sobriety chip just hours before you passed on and we cheered at this morning's AA by the bay Sunday version meeting which was your home group and for us who knew you intimately we understood that the chip was special because you worked your assholeism off to get it. Thank you God for the gift that was Carson and thank you Carson for the gifts of God you left with us. A hui ho...see you later brother...mahalo. (((((hugs))))) "
-- Edited by Jerry F on Sunday 1st of February 2015 08:27:46 PM
Beautiful tribute Jerry. Thank you for sharing your loss with MIP. It sounds as if your friend worked hard for his recovery and earned your deep respect in the process.
Prayers for all who work hard for the Spritiual Treasures of these programs.
It sounds as if his death was a sudden loss? I think that sometimes makes our grief even stronger. Good that he died sober and that you can all give his spirit a wonderful send off now. Since he can no longer speak, perhaps you will be his voice and pass on the e/s/h in some way that he spoke and showed? (((J)))
Carson did work hard for his sobriety and for his wife Bonnie...She needed a sober partner and he wanted sobriety and her. He spent a couple of trips in coming here to the Big Island and loved the calm spiritual atmosphere of the Eastside and at first yeah he was rough and he was rough and still working for it. As a group we spent a lot of time together the fellowship and Carson and his brother Tom is an Al-Anon member so we are family. Carson got skin cancer and I won't attempt the name of it because the name itself is ugly. Was it sudden? yes for us it was cause the last time he was here to marry Bonnie with the Eastside fellowship in attendance and the beauty of the Big Island as his wedding ground he and she were healthy...there was no report and all that we spoke about was the sober good life. LOL Cowboy boots, western hat and belt buckle is about as far away from Hawaiian as you can get however in the context of the recovering families he fit right in. I'm glad to have been a part of his journey...the private one on one stuff and the world of Carson and Bonnie. I got a hug for her if for some reason she decides his ashes need to go out into the ocean from our recovery sight and I will be willing to be one of the swimmers with the urn. Thank you God for this example of committee courage. Yeppers Hoot...21 years and he did each and every day of it the way it is suggested listening, learning and practicing...practicing...practicing. This alcoholic did not die alone or in vain...I might be that fortunate if I continue to hang with you all. (((((hugs)))))
Thank you for sharing more of his story and that of his wife's story, too. In another 20 or more years, I'm sure there will be a grand send off and lots of thanks and prayers for you, too, Jerry. (Wear your sunscreen.)
How fortunate we are that some people enter our lives; and what greater tribute is there than to be remembered.
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I am strong in the broken places. ~ Unknown
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another! ~ Anatole France
(((((((((((Jerry)))))))))))) sorry for your loss...He sounds like a real program warrior...now he is free from any disease.....sounds like he left you and his other loved ones a lot of LIGHT .......thank you for sharing about him.....
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Live and let live and do it with peace and goodwill to all!!!!
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