New York, Friday June 30

This was the day I celebrated ONE YEAR of SMOKE FREE LIVING!!!!!

Dave picked me up at 6:15 AM Friday for the trip to the airport so we could take our first sober adventure vacation. We got there as the place was boarding and I was grateful I had brought snacks because there was no time for breakfast. I would have not been the delightful traveler with no food in me. As it turned out they served Cherrios, milk and a banana. Our seats were in the rear of the plane and I sat next to the window beside a young woman. My thought was: in my other life I would have spent the entire flight never speaking to her, so I turned and said, "I'm Scott." So Carla and I spent a lot of the flight chatting and laughing. She was charming and intelligent, and she got the joke. It was to be her first time in NYC and she was so excited. What a difference that little introduction was.

Our hotel was delightful, old world updated. Two double beds, marble bath floor to ceiling. I found out today it was Leona Helmsley's place during her bitch reign. Across the street was Isadora's Deli, a full service joint serving baked goods, salads, sandwiches, pastas and pizza. Upstairs was a dining loft. Totally convenient, except for Sunday when they were closed. We were in midtown, and walked to Central Park and up to Lincoln Center where Greg was waiting to give us a private back stage tour of the Metropolitan Opera. Greg is a set maker and we met him last summer when he was here while his mom was undergoing heart treatments. He led us and his sponsor through the bowels of the Met and it was totally fascinating. We got to stand on stage and face the house which is HUGE. Then standing in the orchestra pit. It was a real treat.

Then we hopped a subway to Chelsea where we attended a meeting held in an old seminary. Without air conditioning no less. I was so sweating when we arrived and it took forever to cool off. Sweating was the sub-theme of the weekend. Jeez, I am sooooooooooo out of shape. Damnit, there are so many SKINNY BITCHES all over that town. And such cuteness, oh my! Afterwards we ate with some friends of Greg's. Sober fellowship at its finest. How lucky we are to be able to travel anywhere and find our brothers and sisters in recovery.

I slept fitfully. I ached and the bed was new to me and there were not enough pillows. I sleep with one on each side of me so I can throw my leg and arm over one so my spine does not twist. Solution: next night got another pillow. And I kept it cold in that room, Dave was under extra covers. Thanks for that indulgence, Dave.