Blessing #34 - Fate Sending Friendly Faces at Just the Right Time

Today, fate (and the Internet) steered some interesting people into the Canteen.  At first they seemed like any other group of tourists.  They heard about the Canteen on yelp.com and were the kid of customer that makes the day go faster, asking questions and really enjoying the Canteen experience.  She even went so far as to try a Canteen-del-Christa (loose meat with corn chips, ketchup, and onion in a cup instead of on a bun).  We all got to giggle at him when he asked what "pie a la mode" was.   The older gentleman with them, Normand,  was quiet but had smiling eyes and a gracious energy that poured out of him. Yup, they were thoroughly enjoyable customers and that was before I found out what made them remarkable.
You see, these three people are currently touring the country in an RV screening the documentary film Lost In Woonsocket.  Normand is one of the subjects, and I'm looking forward to receiving my copy as soon as I can get the $20.00 on my card to order it.  The film is about two alcoholic homeless men that struggle with the landmines of life on the road to recovery.  Being someone that has struggled with substance abuse issues and suicide survival in my past, it is always life affirming to meet people that aren't afraid of their own voices and are willing to go the extra mile to be a person of meaning.

Lost & Found In America Tour

Sometimes, fate puts people in your life, even for just a moment, exactly when they are supposed to be there.  I had been starting to have a hard time focusing on my progress, and instead I've been feeling like I just now woke up.  With tomorrow being the 4th anniversary of Chris's suicide (the event that finished pushing me over the edge into my whirlwind alcohol and drug addled breakdown that took my kids, my home, my job, and my self respect) meeting them tonight hopefully will help keep my perspective during the next 24 hours.  So I'm very thankful fate decided to toss them my direction tonight.