RECOVERATI

Tag: David Bowie

Easter candy

Dipped and Dyed

It was two o’clock on a Sunday when my eyes fluttered open. The light was bright–like, make-me-wretch-violently, bright. “Good,” I breathed warily, “It’s not rush hour yet.” It was two o’clock, to be exact, on Easter Sunday. Really, it was just another day. As long as the Ralph’s on La Brea stayed open until I could get there-or-be-square, ...

Picasso sketch of dove and face

Cent’Anni! (But I’ll take Two Years)

A traditional Italian toast–“Cent’Anni!”–blesses the toastee with wishes to live 100 years. I’ve walked this earth made from a colorful mixture of Italian, Scottish, English, German, Scottish and French stock, never having toasted much of anything (with the exception of my twin at her wedding. But not before I got into the champagne). I jumped ...

Bowie with hands covering his chest

Give Me Your Hands ‘Cos You’re Wonderful

The last thing my father did before he died was play a flute solo in church. Power move. He was an atheist who frequented our Episcopalian church with the simple excuse to play music for people. He ended on a high note–literally–collapsing against a piano. He felt no pain. He would elicit no such drama. “Atheist Dies in Church, Performs Final Solo,” read the headline ...

View of buildings from Bryant Park

The Victimless Crimes of New York City

I am sitting at a community table, listening to Erykah Badu on Spotify, in a bustling Starbucks on West 41st street near Times Square. I welcome the noise of the espresso machine snarling at me over my own thoughts and even my music. I remember this feeling of aloneness being here.  I’ve learned how to ...

Graffiti in Los Angeles

CA and VA: My Star-Crossed Lovers

I am awaiting my flight to Vegas on a layover in the heavily populated Phoenix airport. In an attempt to be thrifty, I am hopping three flights to get to Philly where my sister and brother-in-law live. A man just sat down next to me talking all kinds of smack to himself. He belches a ...

Women boxing

TKO.

HOLY WHAAAAAT. I am one year and one day sober. F^&$)?:@^{%~*<‘@!,;”#=+£€•}! Fuckity fuck fuck fuck. The most important thing I can say here (that is not an expletive) is thank you. Thank you to every single person who made themselves available to help me. Thank you to those who allowed me to be a part ...

Bowie holding a dog by its leash

360 Degrees of Separation

Today marks my 360th day of sobriety. Only 5 days stand between me and, well, just another standard issue, miracle-laced 24-hour period. All sorts of scary and wonderful thoughts have been coming to the surface lately. I am at once beaming with joy and terrified that I am accountable to a mystical and loving Higher ...

Empty LA bus

Ticket to Ride

No Thx I will be the first to admit that riding the bus in LA brings out just about every negative or unsavory thought and emotion from deep within my psyche. When I board the bus to find my seat, one giant, noxious odor assault my sense. I have some real questions here, people, like ...

Wizard of Oz, "Surrender Dorothy" sky writing

Say ‘Uncle’

Crash and Burn Friday, that’s what’s good. I started this morning unwittingly speaking to a 12-step group of recovering alcoholics about my process of surrender. This is my very favorite topic to discuss because in the past six months, external forces in my life have all but pistol-whipped me into a constant state of bowing ...

Bowie Unseen by Gerald Fearnley

A Cloud of a Different Color

Who, me? My name is Lucy, and I am a recovering alcoholic.  Today I made the executive decision to write my experiences as a person relatively new to sobriety because it occurred to me that my truth could quite possibly help someone–or at the very least, provide some insight into a sometimes-nebulous way of life. ...