For several years I've sold with a friend at a swap meet 150 miles from home and stayed at his house. Four years ago on setup day, he didn't show up or answer his phone. I finished setting up and drove up to his home to see what was going on. No lights on, newspapers piled in the driveway and it was pouring a cold rain. With no place to stay, I went to start my van and wouldn't start, acting like no fuel. I'm stuck.
Went to the neighbors and they indicated my friend was probably on another binge. They did have keys and let me in the house and we searched for him to no avail. We listened to his recorder and learned another friend had taken him to the hospital for alcohol poisioning. We called that friend and he was bringing 1st friend back from the hospital. After the friend got home, I took him to an Applebees to get some food.
Friend was so drunk he could not even go to the swap meet on Saturday but did manage to get my van towed to a dealership to get fixed. It was the fuel pump.
Talk about divine intervention. My fuel pump fails in his driveway, really? I had to stay a couple of extra days and I want to think that was the start to his healing.
The irony, fast forward 4 years to this last weekend. Same swap meet, we go to an Applebees again for dinner and where is the only available booth ------------- in the bar. So we both ate, no drinks for either of us except water and a cola. He is coming up on 4 years of sobriety and for me it's been since 10/1/12.
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