The setting. The scene.
A Tuesday night meeting in Kowloon.
Kowloon is a city and an area of Greater Metropolitan Hong Kong that is across Victoria Harbor from Hong Kong Island.
A gentleman named Mark is leading the meeting.
Important background information.
I was born in Detroit, Michigan. From birth, until I went away 18 years later to University, I grew-up in the Northern Suburb of Royal Oak.
In 1990, in Royal Oak, at a 9am Saturday morning meeting on Normandy Road, I met Helen D for the first time. Twenty nine years later, I remain in-touch with Helen D.
Helen D, with now over 40 years, one-day-at-a-time, has quite a following in the greater Detroit area.
She is also known for doing this : With her right hand on the meeting table, she will 'walk' her index / middle fingers across the table saying : "My name is Helen and I am a grateful, recovering, alcoholic."
Helen D is beloved by all who are blessed to meet or to come into contact with her.
THE REST OF THE STORY
Hong Kong is approximately 7,800 air-miles, and 18 hours flying time from Detroit. On this Tuesday night in Kowloon, I am a long way from Detroit.
Mark gets into-his-story.
During his share, Mark says : "I got sober in the Detroit, Michigan area in 1998."
My ears perk up at hearing mention of my home town area of Detroit.
Then Mark says : "After my first meeting, a lady named Helen
gave me my first Big Book."
And Mark goes on to mention how Helen walks her fingers across the meeting room table saying : "My name is Helen and I am a grateful, recovering, alcoholic."
I then said aloud to Mark : "Helen is still alive and I am in touch with her."
Yes, of course, after the meeting Mark and I had a nice visit.
AMAZING .. WE NEVER KNOW DO WE ..
I began this website to show photographs of our significant historical sites. Dr. Bob's home in Akron Ohio. Bill Wilson's birthplace in East Dorset Vermont. Stepping Stones in New York. Then it occurred to me that once done .. there would be nothing more to post here! So for this reason I have decided to expand my initial thoughts about this website to also include photographs of meeting locations and other tidbits that I feel would be of interest to those of you following this website.
MANY OF YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE MANY IMPORTANT HISTORICAL SITES OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
I PLAN TO SHARE WITH YOU PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN OF THEM AS WELL AS PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN OF SPECIAL MEETING LOCATIONS THAT I HAVE VISITED.
I PLAN TO SHARE WITH YOU PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN OF THEM AS WELL AS PHOTOS I HAVE TAKEN OF SPECIAL MEETING LOCATIONS THAT I HAVE VISITED.
A great tribute to Helen. Although I live in Alaska, Helen is my "Michigan Sponsor" and I do stay in touch with her .. plan to call her in a few minutes. And, since I sat in this Hong Kowloon meeting with you recently and heard Mark mention Helen in his share, I am smiling at the memory! Helen has touched so many lives!! Patti
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your reviewing this Post I really appreciate it. I did not want to mention in the Post that you were with me. By the way, I asked him and Danny does not know Helen nor who she is. That surprised me. Much Love and again Thanks for your comment.
DeleteCap, Wow! this is a small world we live in. I am going to pass this on to others as well as printing it out and deliver it to Helen myself. Best wishes, Gord
ReplyDeleteAmazing huh Gord? We never know what's coming next do we? I was shocked when Mark got into his story. Thanks for your support Gord. Suddenly I was back home in Royal Oak sitting here in Hong Kong. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, thanks for sharing. Your blogs are great! The world truly is an amazing place. And the impact one person can have is inspirational to say the least. I aspire to that level of impact.
ReplyDeleteHow about the impact that Bill Wilson had on the world ? Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDelete