We're getting married!

As many things do in our lives, it all started at a meeting. I noticed Doug from across the room and could see that pretty much everyone there was a close friend or was waiting patiently to say hello. He had something people wanted, and I remember wondering what that must feel like. A new friend convinced me to join Berkeley's recovery softball team in my first year, which was nerve-racking, but I was learning the importance of having friends in recovery. I wanted positive connections in my life. At the first practice I see Doug was one of the coaches- I wasn't surprised. He was Mr. Popular at that first meeting. I was pretty shy, but he made me laugh and feel less clumsy out there on the field. He became a good friend that year. Doug was always kind, a thoughtful listener. When I lost my grandparents, he comforted me. When I was heartbroken, he listened to my pain and tried to remind me there was plenty in my life to still be grateful for, to never give up hope. Over the years he became more and more important to me. We knew we were attracted to each other, but it didn't work out when we tried to date. It was a painful time because he had become my best friend, and I had to separate myself for a while. The power of forgiveness brought us back together. I started to believe he came into my life for a genuine reason. Larger than a coincidence, more than just a friend, so one day I decided to just be honest and tell him what I wanted. I asked if we could try it again, to "go steady". We went to the NA prom together, and the rest is history. It was a Monday night in 2017. I saw Leslie walk into my home group at 924 Gilman Street. She was new, so I couldn't talk to her. I just saw a beautiful woman. I gave her space and waited to talk to her, no hurry, and we became friends. Eventually she was asked to join our softball team. What was impressive is she never quit, despite struggling sometimes. Leslie would ask me for a ride to games or practices and read quietly in the back seat. One year at one of our tournaments, Leslie and I flirted with each other all day. That night she sat next to me at our team dinner. The next day, our team won first place in our division! It was all going really well, but we were just friends. At one point we tried to be together, but the timing wasn't right. We both had our feelings hurt- things didn't pan out. We didn't really speak for a couple of years. I needed to give her space and felt lonely without my softball buddy. The Gilman started meeting in-person again and one night she came and offered me an olive branch, a homemade granola bar. A couple of weeks later we were seeing movies, shooting pool, going out to dinner, slowly becoming inseparable. She asked me to go to prom and said that we should make this official. I believe patience and faith led me down this long, slow, beautiful path. I'm very grateful and excited to be with Leslie. We have big plans. You know it's real when you're happy waiting for your partner to get home. I cherish that every day. When I get off work, I wait in the living room for my love to bike home, and she still keeps showing up. I'm a lucky man.