Whoa! Whatta Wonderful Wahine Weekend!

Grandma, The Matriarch

Whoa!  Whatta Wonderful Wahine Weekend!

   I have been blessed with experiencing the most magical weekend...one filled with women (wahine) so inspiring and beautiful inside and out it blows my mind!  I have experienced feelings rooted from so deep within me that I didn't even know they were there, allowing my heart to soar to a new level that feels unfamiliar to me, yet so wonderful and freeing!

Cheri and Dee

    I was able to spend a long weekend at the Woman To Woman Conference in Honolulu, traveling and rooming with a very dear friend of mine who gave me such laughter and joy I haven't experienced in forever (and each day of my life in recovery is filled with a lot of laughter and joy, believe you me)!  I was allowed to share the experience, strength and hope of hundreds of my sisters and mine with them.  What a gift!  What inspiration!

Grandma and Mom

   But not only have women been instrumental in my life this weekend, but now I am opening my eyes and heart I realizing how important women have been to and for me since I entered this world.  My mom is my best friend and loves and supports me unconditionally. Grandma is the matriarch of our family and has sacrificed so much of herself for all of us. I've never heard her say anything bad about anybody. Auntie, too, has sacrificed to care for those who needed her love and nurturing as they passed to the other side.  How selfless is that?  I have very dear girlfriends not in the program as well who have supported me continually and have given me strength and guidance and nurturing. 

Auntie Carol

   So although I got clean and sober in '98 and had over 13 blissful years of sobriety, I didn't realize how important the the women in my life were and are to me.  I got lax, complacent and selfish in my sobriety.  I kept this good life all to myself...and with that, I lost it.  You see, early in my sobriety I learned that " if you don't give it away, you can't keep it."  
   I picked up again.  I took a drink even though that was the last thing on my mind or agenda (or so I thought).  I even thought it through to the end which was what I was taught, but the insurance policy I get from going to meetings, being of service,  helping the newcomer and sharing my experience, strength and hope had lapsed and run dry.  And with that first drink came the obsession once again in all its glory.  I could not get out of my head the next drink.  I could not get out of my head the lying, cheating and deceit.  My life had gone full-blown negative on me...after just one drink!
   I thought I was going nuts.  I was so scared of myself and this disease.  I sought professional help who steered me right back to the fellowship of AA (duh, Dee).  So two years ago I went to a women's meeting here in Kona and felt, once again, that I was home and safe.  I love the women in this program and that they keep coming back.  I love to watch them go through "life on life's terms" without picking up or using.  I love learning from them that there is no escape from life nor feelings of discomfort nor any reason to do so, that everything is just as it should be and it's up to me what I'm going to do with it.  Today I have choices and have been taught to choose wisely. 
   I have no intention on leaving again, of getting complacent nor selfish.  You see, my life is so much better today than in those first 13 years.  I had it confirm to myself that I am indeed an alcoholic.  I had to confirm to myself that the many AA slogans I had learned were true, "Easy Does It", "Keep It Simple", "Keep Right-Sized", "Let Go, Let God", and "Keep Coming Back, It Works", to name a few.  I had to feel the greatness of my support group, especially the women, who keep their arms open for me and my seat warm for me in the meetings, who loved me until I could love myself, who give me hope and strength and purpose each and every day.
  Then comes another Wonderful Wahine Weekend God-shot.  At the Hawaiian Airlines gate which will take me back home after a spectacular weekend is another group of beautiful and inspirational women.  Wahines from Down Under with a layover in Honolulu on their way to Maui, long-time friends of my hubby's who I had the privilege of meeting whilst visiting Australia.  They were just starting their girls' getaway of fun and frolic, tears and laughter, experience, strength and hope. How that filled my already overflowing heart with even more joy as I can already taste what this time together for them will bring for many years to come, and it hasn't even happened yet. 

Dawn, Dee and Chrissy

   Back in Kona I get to have a good-bye dinner with a girlfriend of mine with whom I worked for many, many years at Safeway in Tahoe, my hubby and hers.  She and her husband have graced us with their presence for a few days while traveling the islands as well.  This led me to remember how many wonderful co-workers of both genders I have had in my life.  We have had many a social gathering with even more ladies' gatherings.  So much fun!  So much comraderie!  So much life!  So much keeping each other in check working a job that is quite stressful at times.  So much "venting" to each other allowing us to keep sane and keep our jobs and eventually retire.  Thank you to both my Tahoe and Kona Safeway ohanas for that, as tomorrow will be one month since I retired to pursue my life-long dream of entrepreneurship and being able to live and sell my passion of art and stained-glass.

Dee and Laurie

   Most importantly, thank you to all the empowering, classy and beautiful women, inside and out, living amazing and positive lives. You are my role models. You are my mentors. You are my heroes. You are my inspiration!
   With that I shall leave you for this week.  We have choices today so let's chose wisely and selflessly.
   For those interested in checking out my artwork and gifts in recovery, please visit my website at deesignsbyharris.com.

Waisun and Noreen

Sherry

Sarah

Jacqui, Donna and Dee

Dee and Cathy