The Joys of Sobriety
01 May 2012 | Loreto, Baja California Sur
Gabriellas G-Pa
I spent almost a week in La Paz and enjoy the difference of being on the Baja side of the Sea. I waited for a good weather window and set off for San Evaristo for the night. Then the next morning set out for Bahia Aqua Verde and spent the night in nice calm weather. The next morning found me motoring to Puerto Escondido and tying up to the fuel dock so I could visit with the manager of the Singlar facility. Augustin, the manager use to work over in Mazatlan running the travel lift and then was promoted to manager of Puerto Escondido. I got to wash the boat down while at the fuel dock.....it has been months since the boat was washed down with fresh water. I quickly left Puerto Escondido so I could get up to the Loreto anchorage before dark. I have spent the last couple days laying around Loreto and will leave tomorrow morning for Guaymas. I will miss Mulege and Santa Rosalia again this year.
Now for the meaning of this day, the completion of 34 years of sober living. When I first moved in with my son and his family, it was hard to get used of living with people since I have been living by myself for so long. As the years passed, things got a little easier, but there was always this little wall between my son and myself. He harbored this resentment for me(and rightly so) because I choose to drink and give up on family life. So during all that time living with him I just tried to keep a low profile and there wasn't much mention of our feelings toward each other...being macho and stubborn...father like son. So, last year when I was home for the hurricane season, I picked up My sweet granddaughter Gabriella from school and on the drive home she asked "G-pa do you like your son?" After a quick moment of shock, I told her yes, I do like my son. Then she asked "do you love your son?" I told her yes I love my son. Then I asked her why she was asking me these questions. She said she didn't really know and the after a little prying she said it's the way that I and my son react to each other. Of course my brain was in overdrive and I thought if Gabriella picks up on this behavior then it must really show to everyone. So that evening at dinner(yes, we sit at the dinner table almost every evening and have dinner) after Gabriella said grace, I interrupted to say something to my son in front of Gabriella and Karen. I related to him what Gabriella had asked me and I wanted to say to him out loud and in front of everyone that I love him. Life is never perfect, but the atmosphere around the house was a great deal better. All of that from the wisdom of an 8 year old granddaughter....You see...this is what God blessed me with and I'm sure it is His way of saying thank you for living sober. Thank you Lord for assisting me in my sobriety!