My Day and Making Sober History

I was driving down Yale, on my way to the noon meeting at Lambda, taking my leisurely time when all of a sudden Snowy decided he didn't want to travel any further. I gave the gas pedal a push and nothing happened so I pulled into a long, street side parking area. I tried to start the car, the engine would turn over but wouldn't engage. As someone said recently, it didn't want to play. So I called Chuck.

Chuck is my little, funny, Thai mechanic. I have been going to him for some time now and I never thought I would be able to say, or have to say, that I have a mechanic. It's just a little butch for me. But I trust him to take care of the car. I told him what was going on and he gave me the number for the tow truck. I called them and the operator said they would be there within an hour.

It was a beautiful day today, sunny and breezy. I made a few phone calls and settled in to wait for the wrecker to come rescue us. I had bottled water, some cheese crackers with peanut butter, cigarettes, my cell phone and my 12 and 12 book. So since I couldn't make the meeting I read about the 12th step. It was my meeting for the day. And I truly enjoyed just sitting there, reading and not freaking out or being worried about the car or anything else.

It took almost an hour for the wrecker to get there. He loaded Snowy onto the flat bed and I climbed into the nasty cab, buckled up and asked him how he was doing. He said 'You seem so calm, most people in this situation get so frustrated.' I told him I had all I needed and that it wouldn't do any good for me to get upset and after all it wasn't raining. We drove to Chuck's and it was a very bumpy ride, that truck needs shock absorbers badly. I left the car with Chuck and walked the two blocks to Randall's house, stopping off at Taco Bell for two soft tacos.

After I had eaten BoyGirl called to ask if Ran needed anything, he didn't, and I asked her if she could drop me off at home. She was on her way to do errands and she said no problem. Chuck called later and said the repairs would be upwards of $1,000 and I agreed to the work. Didn't really have much choice, but I don't like the idea that Snowy has to spend the night there all by himself. Dennis called me to check on things and I related to him the story of my day and he said '...so you're making your own sober history. Some day you will be able to share with another that the car broke down, you had it towed, got it fixed and didn't drink over it.' I never thought of living my life the way I am today as making sober history. But I like it, and I like it that I don't have to do it alone and that I have the support of so many people that have gone before me. And I am enjoying making sober history.