25 Years of Sobriety

Last night I was out to dinner and when I was leaving I was in search of the restroom. I ran into our waitress, a very kind lady, and she said she would show me the way.
Earlier in the night through my conversation with the waitress it came up that I was a former Excise officer. She had carded our table and was kind of apologetic for doing so. I explained it was the law and she was just doing her job, no need to apologize.
As she and I were walking to the restroom, she said, “As a former Excise officer do you have any advice for me.” And I said, “Always be responsible. Card when you think you need to and make sure you don’t over serve people. If you over serve someone and they get behind the wheel of the car and kill someone some of the responsibility of that decision to over serve comes back to you. You don’t want that on your conscious.”
She looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Tomorrow I will be 25 years sober. I use to be that drunk driver. I could have killed someone. I carry my coin in my pocket right next to my wine opener.”
At that moment all I could say was, “May I give you a hug?” And she said, “Yes!” We embraced right there in the restaurant. We continued chatting and I was just so moved that she would open up to me, a stranger, about something so personal. As I was leaving I gave her another hug and introduced myself.
Gifts like these I have trouble processing. I sometimes get overwhelmed by imaging what that person has been through and why I was put in her path last night. Maybe she needed those hugs, that encouragement, I don’t know. What I have learned on this giving journey is if we stop for a couple of moments to acknowledge and take time for one another, even strangers, we will always be blessed.
Make it a great day!
Stephanie