MAINE: my final frontier. These are the voyages of the Scooter Vespa 250 i.e. Super. Its continuing mission - to explore America's most heavily forested state - to roam the vast coastline, numberless lakes, and mighty mountains. To boldly go where no scooter has gone before!

Friday, January 30, 2015

35 Years of Sobriety

On January 21, we celebrated a most vital anniversary together. I have been sober for 35 years! Briefly, Kathy was forced by my drinking to enroll me in a 90-day rehabilitation center in New Jersey; I had just been fired from my job, our car had been repossessed, and we had been evicted from the home we were renting.

We had Danny, our three-year-old, and Kathy was pregnant with Andrew. Her doctor was alarmed by her condition - she wasn't eating well, because our money went to my booze, not so much to food.

So, Kathy made all the arrangements, gathered family to help her move back to Vermont to her parent's home, although they were vacationing in Mexico.

And I went to the Keswick Colony of Mercy in NJ for 90 days. We reunited and celebrated 40 years of marriage. So, it just goes to show - love indeed does work wonders and miracles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dazed, baffled, but newly sober at the Colony

 

A typical activity - sitting by the fire drinking coffee. A LOT of coffee!

 

We also watched the swans chase ducks and geese

This is Peter "Pong," the best ping pong player in the Colony, until I beat him in a best of seven tournament. This remains to this day the only championship I have ever held

 

 

 

 

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12 comments:

  1. Martha January 30, 2015 at 11:20 AM

    Thank you for posting this. There was alcoholism in my family and I understand.

    First- You are very loved. Second- You are very brave.

    My congratulations to you and your family. A struggle well worth it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thomas KeeneJanuary 31, 2015 at 10:58 AM

      Thank you, Martha. You're so right - the struggle is completely worth any effort!

      Delete
  2. RichardMJanuary 30, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    A real milestone! Congratulation!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thomas KeeneJanuary 31, 2015 at 10:51 AM

    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Keith - Circle BlueJanuary 31, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    Congratulations to you and to Kathy. That's a lot of one day at a time strung together.
    ~keith

    ReplyDelete
  5. TrobairitzFebruary 1, 2015 at 10:01 AM

    Congrats on the very special birthday.

    My boss just celebrated his 28th year of sobriety. I see his struggle everyday but he takes his one day at a time as I am sure you do.

    Be proud.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Coop a.k.a. CoopdwayFebruary 1, 2015 at 11:08 AM

    Tom, it's an incredible thing to overcome, not that I know personally but I've been very close to far too much of it. Here's to more championships you've not even attempted yet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thomas KeeneFebruary 10, 2015 at 10:59 AM

      It's way too common, and so easy to fall into. But it can be overcome.

      Tom

      Delete
  7. SonjaMFebruary 1, 2015 at 4:34 PM

    Congrats, Tom. Here's to the next 35 years!

    ReplyDelete
  8. VStar LadyFebruary 1, 2015 at 9:04 PM

    You are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thomas KeeneFebruary 10, 2015 at 11:01 AM

      Thanks, but in reality, it is Kathy who is amazing - even now, I am in awe of her patience and spirit.

      Tom

      Delete
  9. DebFebruary 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    Awesome! One day at a time...

    ReplyDelete

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