....yesterday. Got up in the morning and headed down to Bidwell Park and went for a walk for roughly an hour and a half. Then took a shower and headed downtown to walk around. Picked up a new pair of running shoes. Needed some since I left my running shoes in a hotel room on the Oregon Coast. Ended up having lunch with one of my nephews that lives here in Chico. Then spent time sitting around talking with him.
That was quite an enjoyable time as he's a young guy that is an alcoholic as well as having drug issues. He's got a bit of sobriety under his belt now which is nice to see. We sat around and talked about his recovery and the 12 step program. He never asked me what if anything I suffered from and I never shared that I have an addiction. But addiction issues run deep in our family history. I just found it very peaceful to sit around and talk about needing to express feelings, emotions and walking a better path on a daily basis.
That was quite an enjoyable time as he's a young guy that is an alcoholic as well as having drug issues. He's got a bit of sobriety under his belt now which is nice to see. We sat around and talked about his recovery and the 12 step program. He never asked me what if anything I suffered from and I never shared that I have an addiction. But addiction issues run deep in our family history. I just found it very peaceful to sit around and talk about needing to express feelings, emotions and walking a better path on a daily basis.
I then spent some time with one of my nieces that was in town. We met down at Starbucks and we had a great talk. We talked about her life and changes going on. She just graduated from High School, starting working and is going to college in another town in a few months. She was excited, scared but very positive about everything going on in her life. She was an absolute joy to see and talk with. She was upset to hear that my wife and I am separated right now. I was glad to see that response. It made me feel that I had done something right in my life, having married my wife and stayed married for so long.
Then ended up having dinner with him and two of my nieces (who brought along their current boyfriends). We had a good dinner though there were quite a few awkward silent moments as we ran out of things to talk about. One of the boyfriends was a jokester just talking nonstop and trying to impress everyone. Somehow I was pulled into his conversation and participated with some of the same crap. I would catch myself occasionally and quiet down. Then there would be more awkward quietness and it would start back up again.
Then ended up having dinner with him and two of my nieces (who brought along their current boyfriends). We had a good dinner though there were quite a few awkward silent moments as we ran out of things to talk about. One of the boyfriends was a jokester just talking nonstop and trying to impress everyone. Somehow I was pulled into his conversation and participated with some of the same crap. I would catch myself occasionally and quiet down. Then there would be more awkward quietness and it would start back up again.
I found that I was a little perturbed that my nieces showing up with their boyfriends just really changed the dynamic and our ability to just catch up with each other. I was also a little perturbed that other than one question from one of my nieces about my work situation, they had no questions about my life or my wife's life. It's not that I wanted the conversation to revolve around me but I just felt a little hurt that they didn't ask how things were going. They're old enough, or I believe old enough, to be able to participate in a conversation and catch up with family.
It was as though each of them just sat in the background and watch whatever conversation go on. If they had participated in a conversation, there might have been probing questions and they probably felt safer not asking questions. I understand they're young and want to have fun. I just wish they were more comfortable in their own skin.
We then ended up heading down to the bowling alley and bowled a few games. Had a fun time down there. Was great to just relax with them.
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