The Life of Bon: A Beautiful Life

Thursday, March 14, 2013

A Beautiful Life

Greg and I skipped town smack dab in the middle of the week and went and played it cool in St. George for two days.  The weather was beyond beautiful (tennis weather!) (pool weather!) (stay outside and play all day weather!) and mostly we just needed a time out from everything.  We have both been so incredibly busy the past month, booked through the roof.  Our lives suddenly feel terribly chaotic and busy and full.

So it was time for a break.  An anniversary break. We drove down late Monday night after Greg's rehearsal, not arriving until the wee hours of morning.  Tuesday we slept in and slept in and slept in.  Something about sleeping in until noon on a Tuesday in March makes me feel like I own the world.  Next it was tennis, and then a dip in the pool to cool off, and then laying poolside in lawn chairs dozing off into a dreamless sleep.  Suddenly it was dinner time and then movie time and then back to the hotel to cuddle up in a gigantic king sized bed time.







Wednesday we took our time getting out of town, doing a little time at the temple, and then stopping for lunch at Hubs' favorite joint in Cedar City.  The day seemed so idyllic.  I felt so much peace and joy.  An immense happiness and calm that let me know that I'm in a good place and doing what's right.

The thought entered my mind, "I have a beautiful life."

Just for the record, this thought is not mine.  It was stolen.  Stolen from a book by Nic Sheff- Tweak.  I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because it describes horrific drug conditions and it is vulgar and graphic and so incredibly sad.  In the same breath, I am so glad I read it and was surprised by how much I learned from it and was totally humbled by it.  Nic, who is writing his memoir, describes his years battling drug addictions- cocaine, meth, crack, you name it.  When Nic is trying to get sober, he spends a lot of time with Spencer, his sponsor.  Spencer has a "normal" life- a stable job, a wife, a kid, a mortgage. Spencer encourages Nic to get clean so that he can have a life like Spencer has- a "beautiful life".

I was so struck by this.  Spencer's life to most is so ordinary, so middle class American.  But Spencer describes it as beautiful.  A family, a home, a job.  A beautiful life.

I was happy to be reminded of that these past couple of days.  I have a beautiful life.  Even with the dirty laundry and the frustrating job hunt and the millions upon millions of question marks looming in the future- I have a beautiful life.

Sometimes I just need to take a step back so I can realize it.

P.S.  I have to share part of Greg's anniversary card message.  He started it with, "What can I say?  I married up."  Glad to know he sees it for what it is :)

19 comments:

  1. Ahhh, I haven't read that book yet. I feel books like those (crank, million little pieces) are too... hard. Not like I couldn't handle it, but it overwhelms me with sadness that people out there actually live like that. They are burdened by the weight of addiction and I'm so sad for them. But yes, we do live a beautiful life.

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  2. Sounds like a perfect little anniversary retreat!

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  3. Hmmmm so I read "Beautiful Boy" and I'm pretty sure it's the same memoir but from Nic's dad perspective. Does that sound right?? Heavy book is right! So insightful and I have actually referenced the things I learned from it many times, but holy moly.....

    Glad you had a get away. Pool, tennis, food and sun equal paradise. Amen.

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  4. Anonymous4:29 AM

    What an awesome perspective. Perfect post to start my day with. Love reading your blog!

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  5. Hi, I'm a new follower from MDH :) Oh my, I LOVED Twerk. I actually read his father's book first - Beautiful Boy, and that book is even better (if you can imagine that).

    xo
    Ami
    a champagne dream

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  6. Looks like an amazing trip. And I LOVE your husband's anniversary card. Classic :)

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  7. This post made my heart happy! My family has a pretty long history of addiction, so I'm always fascinated by books like a million little pieces, and my friend Leonard. It's interesting to see everything from the addict's perspective. I'll have to make note of this one!

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  8. Tweak is a book I recommend to almost everyone! It is hard and graphic and disturbing, but as you pointed out -- there are so many great messages sprinkled in. His father's memoir "Beautiful Boy" is great, too. Nic's second book, We All Fall Down -- not so much. I liked it, but it just frustrated me because he kept relapsing so much that he had to write a second book about recovery. Anyway -- sounds like a great time! I need a middle-of-the-week getaway.

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  9. Anonymous8:35 AM

    What a relaxing couple of days for y'all! Happy anniversary!

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  10. I think this a lot when I'm watching shows like Parenthood... it gives me the warm fuzzies that an ordinary life, a family life can make so many people watch it and love it. The American Dream is still alive, but most importantly I think people can see their own beautiful lives reflected in it.

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  11. I have a beautiful life too! I can't ask more than a husband who loves me, a beautiful baby girl, a dog, a cat, a house and a steady income. Thank goodness for this life!

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  12. I'm so glad you got a little time away and had fun! I just went away with my husband last weekend and it was HEAVENLY. It does make you realize how lucky you are and that life is good (and that you DO still like each other:)

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  13. I'm super jealous! I miss the warm weather. Actually, we went to the park yesterday and my soul was happy.

    But I have to know! What is Greg's favorite joint in Cedar City? Half of the good restaurants in Cedar were started by my family. Well, two of them were.

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  14. I relate a lot to that book, because I'm an addict. I was never on the streets or smoking crack, but I hung out with partykids and friends that were DJs about 10 years ago. I dabbled into most of that. I quit partying, but I've always been an addict. It'a thinking disease that deals with obsession and compulsion. I know I was born like that. I had to have my toys a certain way, or had to collect all of a collection and that;s all I would think about. When I gained weight in middle school, the obession/compulsions turned into anorexia. The reason why I tried some of those drugs is because it causes you to lose weight.

    I read that book, and he's at what you call rock bottom. I believe that's the same guy who's father wrote about his preception of his son in a book called Beautiful Boy (or son-can't remember). Both are good representations on what addiction is like. We have to work for things that seem to be easy for others. A beautiful life is a life without drugs. It's a sucessful life. It's one more days without the desire to use. This is a progressive disease without a cure, that ends at jails, institutions, and death, if not treated.

    You do have a beautiful life :) All those questions that you have, will work itself out in time. You have a husband that will help you with those. I'm glad you guys got some QT together. Sorry for the long post and all my opinions! I'm not ashamed to be a recovering addict. It's who I am. I would be ashamed if I was stealing and lying for drugs. The way to move on and letting go, is to be honest.

    PS: MessyDirtyHair sent me.

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  15. I'm so happy I saw you on MDH, because I missed your beautiful face! Happy Anniversary, and congrats on a beautiful life ;) Simple really is beautiful!

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  16. Glad you were able to get a break with Hubs... and expose those white chicken legs to some sun!!

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  17. Yay for being blessed and feeling grateful!

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  18. great perspective of life

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  19. Looks like you had a great time! I'm so jealous lol Messy Dirty Hair sent me :) glad to have found you!

    Samantha
    www.hooahandhiccups.com

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