Here in Croatia..the Dalmatian Coast…

”Night and day” is the way to describe there and here. My bus ride from Bosnia to Split was uneventful and comfortable. The difference when we crossed the frontier was striking. Prosperous and well groomed Croatia is a long way from the rough and tumble Bosnian Wild West.

Tonight I dined well. ”Hobotnice salate”, Octopus salad, with fresh tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, parsley, olive oil and lemon juice. Then ”Škampi sa buzaru”–whole shrimp (head, claws and all) poached in a light and fresh tomato sauce with lots of bread to sop it all up. Amazing. After living on mixed grill, ?evapi, and cabbage salad for almost three months, I was in heaven.

I am now in a Cybercafe and the Gypsy Kings are on the stereo; there is a rock band playing Croatian blues on the seaside promenade and people of every culture strolling about in the mid-evening night; the cafes are full, the seaport is hopping and life is better than good.

I was able to get to a meeting tonight around 5:30 which filled my heart as I also saw a couple of old AA friends from here. Great feeling and joy.

I had a bizarre conversation with a priest last night. He claimed that The Pill was responsible for almost all the divorces in the US, the gradual feminizing of men, and the rise in homosexuality. It all has to do with changing body chemistry in women leading to enhanced pheromones and estrogen in the water supply. For some reason I started thinking of Colonel Ripper in ”Dr. Strangelove” with his obsession about bodily fluids and how fluoride in the water was a communist plot to undermine his natural essences. Crazy is as crazy does, as Gump would say.

On my way home never felt so good.

Johnnyboy

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Johnnyboy

Johnnyboy is a queer recovering alcoholic. For the moment he is also the primary caregiver for his mother, who suffers from age-related cognitive impairment. She is happy as a lark and is surrounded by a crew of sober women which gives him the freedom he needs to get out of town. When he is not at home in Somewheresville, he is searching out the proper path to travel for happiness and joy. He is a photographer who believes in the digital age, but feels that film is still where its at. He has a darkroom and works in it. He is single and is in remarkably great physical condition for all the damage he has submitted his body to. His cardiologist is very happy. Johnnyboy is over the age of 35.