Linda and I went to an Al-Anon meeting in Decatur, AL yesterday. Norm was there. I hadn't seen him since the Fair Hope Al-Anon convention of 2007. He reminds me of Popeye. Love him.

He spoke directly to my situation several times- he said a lot of things that I brought back with me. He said, "if doing something is going to cause me a resentment, I don't do it. That's how I determine what is and isn't my responsibility." He also verbalize the same thing I've been praying about for about 5 years now- let me see with God's eyes and hear with His ears. It changes how I see the world. I no longer see each of us as separate, I see myself in everyone I meet. But the one quote I came away with spoke volumes for me: "My presents come wrapped in problems. The bigger the problems, the bigger the presents." I've thought about that some. I think he meant that the bigger my problems, valleys, the more I'm going to learn and come away with. But I wonder if I could think of it also in these terms, "the bigger my problems, the bigger His presence. It just makes so much sense to me.

I'll be going back to that meeting; it's about 30 minutes from here- the same distance as it is to Lewisburg or Columbia and less than it is to Spring Hill. It's a healthy group, too. They're doing a step study.

I got a lot out of Linda's visit. Just wish she wouldn't be so serious.

This has been a long two weeks but I'm really not ready to go back to school. I've got that doctor's appointment on Thursday- I've already lined up Darby to sub for me. Marian has said she would go with me but I gave her an easy out if she doesn't want to. The doctor won't do anything dramatic on Thursday and I think I can make it there and back without any problems but I may reschedule due to gas- I'm flat broke and really don't have the gas to do this now. We'll see what happens.