All The Answers

Thanks so much to everyone for the questions!

Kristen H. asked, "Is your husband an alcoholic?"

No Kristen, but there was a huge adjustment period for us when I got sober.  We had been drinking buddies for many years.  He was always able to stop after a few and I never was.  Since I have been sober, he rarely drinks and there is no alcohol in my house.  Once in a while his buddies may stop over and they'll have a couple out in the garage and I am OK with that.  Just because I am an alcoholic I cannot expect him to abstain the rest of his life, but he is very respectful of me where drinking is concerned.

Fireblossom asked, "What tickles your funny bone."

This is a little embarrassing, but anything having to do with body functions especially farting, pretty much cracks me up.  I know, how immature.  Sometimes I just cannot help it.  My husband is the same way.  When I came home from Target the other day and told him, "I am officially old, I farted out loud in front of people in the gadget isle!"  He had to know all of the details. What did it sound like?  Did it smell, how many people etc. Of course I acted like it was not me!  But OMG!  I really was mortified because it just slipped out.

The reason we were roaring on the way home from the meeting the other night had to do with an elderly gentleman trying to extract a whistling booger from his nose.  He was relentless and was not about to give up!  We all agreed to start carrying rubber gloves and one of those baby snot suckers around in our purses so we could rescue folks like him and then be able concentrate on the meeting!  When someone said they were about to throw a crochet hook his way, well, that was when I almost had to pull over.  Sorry if this is TMI.

I also love "Lucy."  I love to watch those celebrity roasts they have on comedy channel once in a while, but they can get a bit raunchy.  I love that new commercial for the 2010 census with  the lady in the closet smoking who say's "I told 'em I could do it, but I'm gonna need my left handed scissors."  I roll on the floor every time I see that!

Mary Christine asked, "What has been your most challenging course so far and why?

I was going to say the one I am taking right now, but then when I thought about it -Organic Chemistry.  Why?  It was winter, I was working outside about 50 hours a week.  I was in counseling once a week for my sexual abuse.  Many times I would leave work exhausted, go to counseling, (at that point the veils were coming off and I was constantly having to wrap my head around some heavy stuff), then show up to class and try to concentrate or take a test.  I think I was taking another 3 credit class at that time too.  BUT!  I made it through somehow (GOD) even though I just about blew the final because I read the instructions wrong!  That was my first "C" and I was so devastated and disappointed in myself.  But you know what? "C" = Satisfactory!  The other day I was talking to an RN and she told me that "C" also =RN.  No they are not pretty or much to brag about, but I earned it and did the best I could!

Lou asks, "When and why did you decide on nursing?"

When I was a very young girl someone I looked up to as a role model became a nurse. I wanted to go into the LPN vocational program while I was in high school and got talked out of it.  Later on when I was about 16 I got a job as a nurses aid in the local hospital.  I worked on the Orthopedic and Med/Surg. floor and loved it!  I got to see what a miracle the human body is.  I got to see people that I really thought were "goners" get well and walk out of that place.  I loved taking care of people.  I always tried to put myself in their shoes and treat them with dignity and respect.  I applied to nursing school my senior year and was accepted.  I ran away from home and quit school four months before graduation.  Twenty five years later, I decided to pursue the goal of nursing school again, this time clean and sober.

Enchanted Oak asked, "What's your favorite sober memory?"

Boy that is really a tough one because I have so many.  My most recent sober memory was Friday afternoon.  My husband and doggy and I went for a walk in the park.  I did not want to go.  Cold, too much snow, hard to walk, (lazy) but I went anyway. 

When we arrived back home and were taking off our jackets and boots, my husband asked me, "Are you glad you went?"  I said, "Yeah", he said, "I am too."  He opened up his arms and gave me a big hug and said he loved me.  It's gonna be hard to top that one for a while!

Mary LA asked, "What is the single most difficult thing you have had to accept in sobriety?" 

Wow, Mary that is a tough one.  Now don't get mad at me, but the answer is the question; Acceptance.  Acceptance has been the most difficult thing for me.  I grew up in world that was black and white.  I had to accept that there are gray areas.  Acceptance that I had a DISEASE.  And acceptance that you are exactly how you are supposed to be because that is how God made you.  Acceptance of myself, for who I am, and that God really loves me no matter what.  It took me a long time to feel totally worthy of God's love, and to accept that love, but once I did (in very small baby steps),  it opened up my heart to a whole new level of feelings of love and security that I have never felt before. Thanks Mary.

Tall Kay wanted to know how I got into construction and will I miss working outside once I am in nursing?

Well Kay, Oh, first of all, I am not a heavy equipment operator, I am a laborer.  It is a common misconception.  When folks hear construction they imagine any matter of things from carpentry to heavy equipment, but in most cases, it a very specialized field of work and by that I mean UNION. The operators run the machines, carpenters swing the hammers, iron workers bust the rods, and laborers do the grunt work, pipe laying, flagging, grade checking, ditch digging etc.

How did I get into it?  Well, the company that I was working for, for 10 years went out of business.  My husband had just gotten his business off the ground and we agreed that I would take some time off and go to college. (Ha ha) I was considering nursing at the time, but was just getting ready to go talk to advisers etc.  A friend of my husband stopped over to say hello and wondered why I was off.  His company needed women laborers bad!  Affirmative action had just been passed, construction companies were scrambling.  Long story short, I went and talked to his boss and they hired me on the spot.  I worked for them for two weeks having no idea how much they were paying me or if they would keep me.  When I opened my paycheck I almost fell over.  I have never made that much money in my life!  About a month later they put me in the union and I have been doing this work for the last 12 years.  For the last four years I have been going to college.  Will I miss this work when I become a nurse?  HELL TO THE NO, SISTA!  There is a reason you are paid so well in this line of work.  IT IS HARD!  It is especially hard on a woman.  I will miss being outside in the spring (when it's not raining or snowing) and the  fall (when it's not raining or snowing).  OK, so for 10 days per year I will miss it.  LOL!    I will love being able to use a bathroom that is specifically for women with soap and running water.  I will love not having to wear steel toe boots, a hard hat and long sleeve shirts when it is 95 degrees outside.  Most of all I will love NOT having to do every low down job that no one else wants to do, like flag traffic for fourteen hours, or haul wheel barrow loads of soaking wet burlap for 12....just because I am a woman!  Thanks for asking!!!!! WHEW!

Last but not least, Syd asked, "What would I say to Bill W. if I could meet him today?"

That is so easy.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! 

And thanks to ALL of you.  This was so much fun!  It really made me think too.

Mary LA at Letting Go, Your question really made me think.   I would like to send you a "Little Red Book" if you do not have one.  If you do not feel comfortable giving me your address, I think there is a way that I can e-mail you a Borders gift card and you can order it on-line.  My e-mail is at the bottom of this post. 
Thanks again everyone for your very insightful questions.  This was a cool idea, Syd!