Twelve Years Three Months Three Weeks Later

I came to Overeaters Anonymous December 17th, 2007,
returning to the car with cappuccino and an apple fritter,
and sitting down alone in the car, spoke aloud, “This is stupid!”

Of course I was sure God agreed. I drove on, taught Sunday school,
and went home to figure out how to reach O.A.I found a meeting Wednesday mornings at eight.
But that was the time I met with my counselor,
the woman who had given me the book
that had me convinced. I saw her instead,
but looked up the meeting, already knew the contact person.

Christmas Eve I fell in my kitchen, hurting my rotator cuff.
Christmas day I was miserable but let it be
so I could fly to London two days later,
miserable stuffed into the middle seat.

I looked for Internet cafes and emailed
my O.A. round-the-world support folks
every chance I got, returned home into 2008
and through Christmas and the trip
still weighed the same.

Getting the Wednesday appointment changed
and showing up for a snowed out meeting
I finally got to a meeting. Never got a newcomer chip
but took one for thirty days.

I took a service position early,
traveling around the Southwest,
serving with folks from around
the world, learning and growing.
Now twelve years three months and
three weeks later, I hate to imagine
life without O.A.!