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Today was an awesome day. My Sober A, son and I went to a store in the city called The Guitar Center. The place was HUGE. Son has been there before but we hadn't. On the way over son is telling us that when he and his band members go they stay for hours playing different guitars. We all kind of went our different ways and I was looking at the Steve Vai Ibenez Jem that my son is always talking about, beautiful guitar w/a inlaid mother of pearl vine going up the neck and awesome sound. As I'm walking around there are people checking out and playing different pedals, amps, electric drums etc. It was kind of like going from concert to concert listening to various degrees of talent. About 45 minutes went by and I strolled over to other other side of the store. I hear a duo of guitars just whailing. I looked up to see where it was coming from and see a small crowd of people gathered. As I got closer I recognized my son's style and thought he must have run across one of the band members and they were jamming. I walked around the side of the crowd and fought back the hugest lump in my throat. *beams with pride* It was Father and son.
My husband was in a band way back when that opened for some pretty big names back in the day. As he got further and further in to his disease he rarely played and would just sit and drink and watch our son play..
There they were together playing "Keep Pushin On" by REO and they sounded great!! A was even singing!! (he's got a great voice). I had about a billion different overwhelming feelings. A is sober and playing guitar again, father and son side by side not missing a note, a bond being mended, and me just so proud of both of them for so many reasons...a memory none of us will forget.
When they were finished there was a lot of clapping and woohoo's from the gathered crowd.
That's not the end though...drum roll I don't know quite how he did it, I guess while we were walking around more afterward... When we got home son and I came in the house, A lingered outside. When he came in he went directly downstairs (to son's room) then came upstairs. About 5 min later son went down and I hear AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!! OMG!!!!!
Hubby had bought him the Ibanez Jem, sons dream guitar. Son ran up the stairs and was literally shaking, gave his Dad the biggest hug. I guess I should have been a lil pissed because he didn't say anything to me about spending that kind of money, but I just didn't have it in me. It was something my hubby wanted to do for his son, make a dream come true. I guess he wanted to make sure our son remembered the day, though I don't think he would have soon forgotten.
Christy
-- Edited by Christy at 23:26, 2006-12-30
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If we think that miracles are normal, we will expect them. And expecting a miracle is the surest way to get one.
Awesome story! They both must be very talented. What a positive moment for you. My AHsober dabbled in guitar and singing. His brothers are/were both in bands. He just didn't have to confidence to do the same. His alcoholic thinking. Two of our sons like to play the guitar and some times play with their dad. When I get really angry at him for doing what he does and being in his disease, I try to appreciate that he gave them the gift of music.
I came here to post and had to read about your great day.
I got chills down my arms. Miracles are happening every day.
As a mother, I can soooooooooo relate to the pride you felt for your son and how blessed you feel that your hubby is sober and emotionally available for both of you, all of you.
Love ya, Enjoy New Year's
Maria
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If I am not for me, who will be? If I am only for myself, then who am I? If not now, when?
Ok, that is the best story I have heard in so long and I have tears!!! Makes me believe in the future for my husband and sons. Thank you for sharing, and I am very happy for you! Not to mention your son, that guitar ROCKS! Congratulations on a wonderful thing. Peace.
Made me remember something I hadnt thought of in a long time. My step son was in band for a few years and played the trumpet. I play trumpet as well. One day the stars aligned...lol....and we both sat down and played together. Right now I am feeling the love and pride again, just as your hubby and son did when they were playing together.
Well all I can tell ya girlfriend is that at 7am this morning, you had me in tears with your post. Somebody pass the tissues please. You even had hubby fighting back the tears. (Pipers Kitty had a stuffed mouse in her mouth. Otherwise she would have been doing the same thing! )
You scared me there for a second when you said he didn't come in from the car! DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! I am old woman and my heart can't take it! lol It is amazing how far we've come this past year. Who would have thought that you would hear your hubby singing and playing again? Who would have thought that I would have hubby safely tucked in bed? Who would have thought that on Christmas Eve Piper got locked in a neighbor's garage for seven hours (they went on vacation). Well.... okay she's not high on the IQ scale, but she's ours.
So many times people come here with so much grief and sorrow in their hearts. It's so nice to show them that miracles can happen for all the family members. Sobriety is absolutely possible for them. Recovery is absolutely possible for us. Families do recover. Thanks for sharing all your happiness with us (and also the pain). What an example you are.
Love and blessings to you and your family. HAPPY NEW YEAR DEAR FRIEND! Love ya lots!
Live strong,
Karilynn, Hubby and Pipers Kitty (who is not locked in the neighbor's garage anymore)
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It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
What a wonderful story -- thank you for sharing! That is a beautiful guitar! What a wonderful and great gift -- sobreity that is! Folks in the rooms used to tell us (at an AA mtg w/ alanon participation) that things would happen beyond our wildest dreams. Sounds to me like your hubbie realized his dream too -- that wonderful father/son experience and being able to have back what was his: his own talent, his son, and some delight in those. My sober A tells me all the time how grateful he is to have these kids of our's; he literally wells up with tears. There's an innocence and delight, total acceptance and forgiveness, no baggage that comes from kids... and, he knows that they are the way they are despite our (yes, mine too) shortcomings. Kids (no matter what age) are pretty wonderful. No doubt, your hubbie had a great sense of love, pride, and delight in giving that guitar and under it all probably felt very grateful for having a family, a son with similar talents to his own, and another chance to have that special relationship. What a huge blessing! Thanks for sharing the hope!!
tears in my eyes with the happiness and hope that comes through in your post! it is like a dream that we all dream....not having alchohol disrupt what is the best in our lives. i am so happy for each and every one of you!
You have a special gift of snapping me out of my self-pity and self-doubt, that was your gift to me. Your gift was to experience your family at their best. What a blessing!
I often wish I was musical... LOL I am NOT, but I love live music. Those that can make it, are specially blessed. Enjoy your family, you certainly deserve it!
Have a great new year, and take care of you!
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"Good judgement comes from experience... experience comes from bad judgement" - unknown
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