Downtown Again

I'm definitely grooving on the Downtown Meeting right now.  I'm a big fan of attending a lot of different kinds of meetings - I won't thrive on a strict diet of new sobriety - but my expectations are in line at this particular meeting right now.  When I go to meetings with a lot of sobriety present I notice a certain amount of back-slapping, aren't-we-fucking-unbelievable?, self-aggrandizing kissey-kissey.  The new people are keeping it simple, not drinking one day at a time, and grateful for just that.

I was stuck in a corner with a few homeless guys who don't have access to a regular shower.  One of them was called on to speak.  He's only recently on the street and he was very articulate - I could tell that he was making an effort to be as presentable as he could be despite his circumstances.  There was a quiet dignity about him that I found appealing.  My favorite attendee was the guy who read The Daily Reflections.  I noticed him when I chaired the other day - he's a wild looking old guy with an Einstein hairdo, uses a walker, and he was nodding off while I was speaking - not unusual when I'm the Main Attraction.  It was mesmerizing - his head would slowly, slowly, slowly tilt forward, and then Snap! he would jerk it upright.  I had trouble concentrating.  He read confidently and quickly, not stumbling once.  He sounded like a college professor.  I loved it.

When I keep my expectations in line good things happen.  When I pre-judge - when I say I'm better than or I'm not as good as - then I miss the magic.