TALK TO ME WHILE I AM ON THE ROAD
I PLAN TO USE THIS BLOG TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES AND IT IS MY INTENTION TO KEEP EVERYONE ABREAST OF MY JOURNEY ACROSS THE USA WITH THE TWELVE STEP MESSAGE.
This conversation is dedicated to a discussion of your experience of the retreats and the material presented there. And also to answer any questions and keep in touch with my friends along the way.
Did you leave the Retreat/Workshop with a greater understanding of the Steps?
Was the experience worthwhile? if so, how?
Have you been able to maintain the Promises offered by the many 12 Step Programmes more readily?
Are you using the ideas and/or materials and if so, how is that working for you?
Would you do it again?
We’d love to hear from you about your experiences of attending one of our retreats or workshops.
Please leave comments on this page describing what happened for you.
I am lost for words when I think of a way to describe my retreat experience. I feel it was like no other experience I have encountered. It is one of the best if not the best thing I have done for myself and all those who love me. I feel that Gods timing allowed me with the help of my retreat friends uncover a decision I made at 4 years old that has now set me free to live the life I was always meant to live. I am free and I am so joyful. I have also been able to see how this programme works and it is a true blessing. I will continue my journey a new woman with a big smile and gratitude in abundance.
Let me start at the begining. I landed in St. Louis just outside of Illinois where I was going to pick up our Motorhome RV (recreational vehicle or motorised caravan to you Brits). It is 32 feet and looks fine for the money spent. However, I certainly could have done a much better job of checking it out. And would have if I stupidly hadn’t waited so long to settle the purchase of this vital part of my intended journey. After what was a sign of things to come they repalaced a gas hose which took 4-5 hours do to nlack of parts, off I went headed to Los Angeles for what both Brian and I thought was to be a fun “Road Trip” back across America. But since I had not done my homework it turned out to be an Adventure yes but a fun Road trip not exactly.
Anyway, it is 9:pm and I already lost a half day of driving I set off without any maps yet and a GPS SatNav that was acting up. I simply headed West. The roads were rough and the RV seemed to be banging and rattling much more than I remembered from the one I owned in the past. But nothing is going to have me disapoint my dear friend who will be waiting in LA so I ignored the noises and bumps and rattles figuring they could be taken care of later.
I am beginning to make a list of things to be repaired (I thought “this is to be expected”) along the long journey ahead. And of course much to be learned (or re-learned) about travelling in an RV. I am quite hyped-up and can only sleep an hour or so here and an hour or so there along the way to LA. After having recieved the wrong directions (or me hearing them wrong) I finally bought a map and found that I had added 3-400 miles to an already long ride to LA, and when and got as new GPS (the one I had was really broken and doing weard stuff). By this time I was driving through the New Mexico/Arizona desert (not planned) and the engine is acting up. OH oh, I thought. And limped into an RV repair (without getting stuck in the desert I might add) and they were having to order the part (a fuel pump) the cost of which I at one time was able to purchase an entire engine, with fuel pump attached. But I digress. Not wanting to leave Brian in LA I got back on the road on a wing and a prayer to keep my date.
I had one planned stop on the way to see my Sponsor George who is very very ill and another friend who was waiting for me. I made it to California and stopped at my friends for the night feeling i had plenty of time to meet the LA airport connection the following afternoon (an hour and a half away). I went to pick up the RV where I parked it and it wouldn’t start (not the fuel pump). I found an RV repair place but they were just closing. Brian suggested that he stay at a hotel there at LAX while I got it going. Our already tight schedule of 8 days was now cut to 7.
The next morning the tow truck came and he informed me he could not tow me. But he was kind enough to crawl underneath and fiddle with something (that he said was wires laying across the starter, which later turned out not to be so) and I was on the road. Called Brian and picked him up a little more than an hour and a half later. Finally our road trip is on.
I WILL FINISH THIS LATER IT IS PAST MY BED TIME.
Jamie, I love you Chris P – and incidentally, I seem to be practicing Step 3 more and interfering less – and things are getting better- still v painful. As for your Rv- well as a person with a car habit..what wisdom can I offer? none!! C
Wait a minute. I forgot that the adventure begins BEFORE I leave for St. Louis. I had left my self what I had thought would be plenty of time to take care of any “problems” that would arise with my new home for the next 5 months. I laid everything out on the bed, packed carefully and lightly the night before my flight. Got up in plenty of time and headed out on the train to Gatwick. As I am riding along it suddenly dawned on me that I forgot my passport. I calmly got off at the next stop and bought a ticket back knowing that “all things work for good.” Got home grabbed my passport and returned to the train. Plenty of time to make the flight.
I thought. The trip which normally takes 45 min. took an hour and 25 min. making me 5 minutes late for the 1 hour before the nflight cut off. Standing there 55 min. before the flight I said a prayer and again reminded myself that all things work for good. I changed my flight to the following morning (my only option they said) and returned to the flat wondering what good would come out of this.
I got an email stating that my car had been sold on ebay. Money much needed for any emergencies along the way. And the truth is I could not have finalised the sale had I not been there. All well and good but I have lost a day of my safety time for driving between Illinois and LAX. Though still fine I thought.
Which brings me back to picking Brian up at LAX. Driving from LAX afterhaving finally picked up my “road trip” buddy I was now very familliar with the driving of the motorhome and LA traffic so I drove somewhat faster than my newly arrived passinger felt was safe. He was probably right but I wanted to try to make up some of the time I had lost so we could make plans along the way. Plans that in hindsight would have taken a lot of the mystery out of our journey. We were headed for Arizona and our first Speaking engagement. The “Redhead” that (if you have heard my story) I speak about lovingly is where we were to speak in AA.
But the fuel pump had other ideas and it began acting up. So we stopped (after having made it through open dessert that had we been stuck there – I can’t even imagine) at an RV repair place. Where there really was not much done but we found an extremely bad (and I do mean bad) tire. They were kind enough to change it for the spare and we were off. But it was now too late for us to make our Arizona destination. Which was of great disappointment to Kay (the Redhead), Brian and me. We had spent several hours there losing the planned trip to the Grand Canyon and our talk there in Prescott AZ. So we went to our next stop Las Vegas, but we got there late in the evening and really only went to sleep in the city that never sleeps.
Trying to make the best of a bad situation I have an old friend there that drank again after years of sobriety that I met for breakfast hoping to re-connect and maybe have her come to one of the retreats? Brian didn’t go to breakfast with us and after a quick bite I brought her back to say Hi. We did then we hit the road again headed for the place that had ordered the fuel pump.
That took us most of the day Brian went for a swim and sunning (he got quite dark in the dessert) what a blonde, Aussie, surfer dude. From here we are headed to Oklahoma City OK for what I thought was an AA talk.
BUT FOR NOW I WILL LEAVE IT THERE
Good morning Brain and Jamie- its me Chris (big specs) and its a lovely day in London town and I wish a little I was with you both on the big adventure- I think I should drive
All things work for good…will look forward to the next instalment of The Big Sclhleep- with aplogies to Raymond Chandler (who incidentally is an old boy of Dulwich College)
Love
Chris P
By the way Chris and of course everyone else, Brian travelled with me to Florida and has left me nearly a month ago.
So, where was I in my attempt to catch everyone up on the events of the past month so that I can speak more currently. Ahh yes we were heading for Oklahoma City. After a hard night of driving we stopped for gas (as one does alot when travelling thousands of miles) filled up and turned the ignition key and and nothing. However we were at a trucck stop and so I calmly went looking for someone to help. There was a truck mechanic right there ahhh great luck. “Uh no we don’t work on motorhomes” he says “But, I know a guy that can come out and get you going.”
Another angel (if you will) he came out after some hesitation. When he arrived “It’s the starter” he says and I won’t be able to get one till tomorrow.” Oh, oh, are we going to miss another speaking engagement? Is this really what is best? “But, isn’t there any way to get us going tonight?” I pleaded. “Well quite often if you beat on the starter with a hammer a couple of times it will break the cellinoid (or something) free and it will start.” So, I ask him to give that a try and IT WORKS. “However,” he says “don’t turn it off again until you are where you can get a starter.” Only another 5-600 miles. “But if it should get turned off, where do I beat this thing?” I asked. We crawl under the motorhome together and he shows me “where to beat the starter with a hammer.”
Sorry but this is all I have time for today. Talk soon.
Not the fun trip I had hoped for with my friend Brian but certainly an “adventure.” I keep saying what kind of adventure would it be if we knew what would happen? I don’t think this statement was always appreciated. However, back on the road a long night and I did forget and turned the engine off. But it started that time. I have forgotten to mention that we have been doing most of our “resting” at WalMart (or Wally world as we have come to call it).
I thought it was great that WalMart has opened their parking lot to travellers. I felt this was great news and we would save money TOO. But by the time you take into consideration all those “must havwe” things we purchased while we were there and my pention for Air conditioning. Which means I run the generator alot. The cost is pretty much the same as paying to stay at an RV Park. So much for saving money.
But back to the road, we arrive in Oklahoma City just in time (I thought) for our speaking engagement. And we got ready and Lisa P. picked us up for what remember I thought was an AA meeting. To find that it was a Pan Fellowship meeting put together by our lovely Lisa. Brian and I were in just a bit of shock but we did our best Pan talk and there was some 20 people there which was great. We went to dinner with a few of them and Brian was his same wonderful charming self and entertained everyone with his stories of our journey so far. He is amazing to me to be so able to socialize wherever he is.
Time growing short to be in Florida we planned to get on the road after an early morning AA meeting. So that morning I crawled under the RV hammered on the starter. and we were off to a meeting. There was nerviousness about getting going as soon as possible so I remained in the RV contacting people about the Starter repair. One place closed several calls later we are reminded that the motorhome has a Chevy engine so we could get the starter at a Chevy dealer. So that is what we did. Another item that cost as much as and entire engine when I was younger. Finally off another day gone we’re back on the road. Having decided that we would make a meetin where ever we were each evening we found this “Club House” (with great difficulty). We were late for the meeting but decided we would go in any way. We did and there was 2 women and 1 man there and they were just sitting there chatting. “Oh good” I thought “we’re not late.” After making our introductions the older man pops up and says, “So, shall we take a vote on whther to have a meeting or just continue, ‘Jaw boning?’” A little taken back Brian and I swung the vote towards a meeting.
“OK then” he says, “the topic tonight will be ‘any port in a storm.’” Now what that meant Brian and I seemed to have no idea but we all skillfully weaved the phrase “any port in a storm” into our shares. When the meeting was over the old southern gentleman took Brian in the other room and told him a “joke that is not suitable for the ladies ears.” And Brian still won’t repeat it it was so distasteful. I noticed a sign that said there was some kind of fund raising around the gas hookup for the club, so I thought maybe I could donate a few dollars toward it. So I asked to old southern gentleman what it was all about. He proceeded to take me in the other room and tell me the hstory of how they refused to burn the last bit of fuel in the LPG tank and therefore there was no way to remove the tank and how it is a “major” bone of contention aroung there. I listened graciously and didn’t make a donation.
WE WERE ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
Hi Jamie, excited to pass on what I’ve learned from you! Let’s stay in touch.
If it’s any consolation my folks have a motorised caravan (I’m not British, I simply like the term) and they take it in for repair all over the US as they travel. They seem quite accepting of this as if it is an expected thing.
xo
lynn
Jamie
Your text message got me going and I did a bit of column work last night. It’s so clear to me now that the only one standing in the way of a better life for myself is ….. drum roll…wait, take a wild guess….c’mon….. ok, ready?? IS ME!!!!!! and all of my outdated, self limiting, false beliefs….hope you are well and in great spirits….