May??? It's May Again?

Gosh, I looked at my blog and realized it's been over a month since I've written anything. Just when I think things are going to slow down a bit, I find my calendar filled. Guess who fills it up by saying "yes" to too many things? Oh, well, staying busy keeps me happy and sober and useful. I'm looking forward to a vacation, though. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to take one in July, which is not that far away.

I took the picture at the top one evening after work when Morris and I went for a walk through historic Monroe Ward in the downtown area. The picture shows the back of an old store on Broad Street. This area is typical of most cities; a former residential neighborhood turned commercial, followed by a decline as suburbs sprang up around the city. Now, though, people are moving back into the downtown neighborhoods. New apartment and condominium dwellers are revitalizing empty buildings, and events like weekly evening art walks & street festivals bring in people from surrounding areas.

I've been going to brunch, too. I got this plate of goodness at Northside Grill. Richmond is a restaurant town, and there's no shortage of great choices when it comes to dining away from home.

I took a segway tour, and it was a blast! I want to do it again. I went with several of my friends, and no one got hurt. Segways are very easy to navigate, so keep your eyes open for the chance to ride one wherever you live.
Segway of Richmond offers a choice of tours, and they provided friendly instruction.

The weather has been pleasant overall, so I've been exploring the city and going out with friends when I'm away from the office. I usually have my camera charged up and ready for any photo opportunities. The picture below shows the view from Gamble's Hill looking across the James River.

I've been to a couple of cook-outs, and there's nothing like your first hot dog or hamburger off a charcoal grill to convince you that summer is on its way. We were at a picnic in the country, and nearly choked on our food when the seat of Robespierre's camp chair suddenly gave out.

I try to be a good citizen these days. My face hasn't appeared on any "Wanted" posters around town lately.

A cook-out I attended at a friend's house last week featured a delicious Hummingbird Cake. My mom used to make these. Looks good, doesn't it? We also watched an old movie called I'll Cry Tomorrow, starring Susan Hayward, chewing the scenery and trying to dance. The 1955 movie was based on the autobiography of Lillian Roth and her alcoholic downfall. I love old movies.

Last Sunday a friend invited me to the Picasso exhibition (fabulous) at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. No cameras allowed inside, of course, but I took a couple of pictures of the new addition to the museum.

Those are a few of the things I've been doing lately. My life has been full and rich, both at work and play, and I would not be able to say that if I were still drinking. When I was newly sober I met a guy named Jimmy who was trying to get back into recovery. We hung out together quite a bit, but after a year without drinking, Jimmy drifted away from recovery. I was sorry to hear that Jimmy died a couple of weeks ago at the age of fifty-four. I'm sad about that, but there's some anger, too. Jimmy loved life, and he had the tools he needed to live happily but he put them down and the insanity returned.

The other day as I walked out of the museum, there were three goblets of white wine on an outdoor table. The day was bright, crisp, and sunny. The wine was the color of straw, and looked lovely in the tall glasses. A petulant voice in my head said "Why can't you have a glass of wine?"

Instantly, the response came "Because I'm an alcoholic," and I was glad that the answer carried no bitterness or regret. There was a time when I first got sober that these two voices would have held a debate in my head. As I walked across the green lawn at the museum, I chuckled. Remember the old Looney Tunes cartoons that featured an angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other? Just for today, the angel has the stronger voice.