Summertime in My City

The evidence that summer has arrived is everywhere.

• Everybody is smiling and happy
• I have a bit of a sunburn on my nose from gardening
• Soul Mate and I have made two evening trips to the Beacon Drive-In over the past week to grab a chocolate dip cone (and he just suggested a third but I have put my foot down)
• We enjoyed our first pitcher of lemonade on the deck today
• We booked a camping trip for two weekends from now (at a campground right on the ocean)
• My legs are well-shaven and I'm sporting shorts
• Soul Mate started the boat today and is heading out to sea next weekend
• The garden needs watering every second day
• Our house windows are wide open every day
• Last night there were three humongous cruise ships tied up at Ogden Point (we drive by Ogden Point after we pick up our ice cream cones)

And lastly, the clematis vine and white lilac tree that I blogged about a few weeks ago, are now both in full and glorious bloom.

I am in love with my life.

Just saying.

It's A Happy Day

Last evening, I had an email from Gwen R. advising that I will be featured as Sober Blogger of the Month for May.

I am quite thrilled, honoured, humbled. I had no idea when I started this recovery blog that I would connect with so many wonderful people who are on the path of recovery and self-discovery and are sharing the message at the same time. I plan on posting about my go-to recovery bloggers this week, but a perfect starting point for others who want to discover this community of online recovery is Gwen's TwelveBeads Modem2Modem site.

May is my favourite month. My belly button birthday is in May (the 5th) and my recovery anniversary is as well (the 11th). I've spent so much time this past few months reflecting about where I am at, and where I want to be. Part of my process has been decluttering my home, slowing down and simplifying my life. I have come across a lot of reminders from my past that have given me pause. Mostly good pauses. I posted a few weeks ago about a couple of poems that I wrote way back in the day - before I came into recovery. A few days ago, I found the very first poem that I ever wrote in recovery. It kind of makes me giggle to think that I started this quest to learn how to live in the moment twenty odd years ago.

Yesterday

holds memories and lessons

quite a few

Tomorrow

has my dreams, my hopes,

of which some may come true

But

anything that isn't now

I try to put away...

And

look for all I need from

life, in all I have

Today.

I haven't quite gotten there yet. But I am pleased to be reminded that I have for a very long time, been committed to the concept of mindfulness and living in the moment.

New Food For Thought

I don't have major issues with food. But I confess, I do have a few minor ones.

A close friend of mine recommended Geneen Roth's book Women Food and God to me months ago, so when I saw it on the shelf in the library last week, I grabbed it.

I haven't had a chance to dig into the book yet but tonight I did a few minutes of research into the author and was extremely pleased to find a YouTube discussion of the book between Roth and another favourite author of mine, Anne Lamott. I am excited to dig into the book after viewing this teaser clip.

Of course, I am also a bit hesitant. I don't want to uncover any new issues. And I have absolutely no intention of giving up strawberry shortcake during strawberry season.