t was a beautiful Saturday in July 2003. We drove west along Highway two, toward Thamesville, Ontario. I did not realize it at the time, but this drive would be the start of one of the most "incredible" journeys I have ever taken.

We pulled into Westover Treatment Centre to be greeted by one of the counsellors. As I got out of my daughter’s van and picked up my luggage, I thought to myself - "what am I doing here?" Was I too hasty in deciding to go through with this? After all, I have only been living in an alcoholic home for about twenty-five years. In addition to the hastiness, I was not the one with the problem. I should not be here - the alcoholic should! I was sure though that by the end of the week, I would have all the answers on what to do when I got home, to change the alcoholic’s way of thinking and acting and to help him be "sane" like me.

As I was getting checked in, my memory flashed back to the movie "When a Man Loves a Woman." Meg Ryan, the alcoholic in the movie, was at a treatment centre and was upset when she had to hand in her keys and prescription drugs. As I was doing this, I again thought - "why is it me and not the alcoholic?" After all, it was Meg Ryan, who went for treatment - not her sober husband.

As we met with the counsellors and other people involved in the Westover Program, I kept hearing about how "lights would come on" throughout the week. The one good thing was that there were four other women there in the same situation as I, although I was sure their lives could not possibly be as bad as mine.

After that first day, I have to admit, "lights did start to come on." The counselling sessions were amazing. I learned so much in that week. The bizarre thing about it is that Westover did not teach me how to cure the alcoholic. What Westover did teach me was to look after and heal "me!" My energy is now used for me and for positive healing!

As I continue my journey, after leaving the Family Program at Westover, I thank my higher power every day for the difference in the way I feel. Things that were a major crisis before are minor trivialities now. Not that the situations have changed, but the way in which I try to handle things has changed tremendously. My daily meditations, reading, looking after me - physically, emotionally and mentally are all things I learned at Westover. My week is not complete without attending a twelve-step meeting and of course being in touch with my sponsors.

Westover is one of the best things I have ever done for myself - for the alcoholic and for the people who are close to me. There is a song from the 1960's which starts - "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way..." I was listening to that song shortly after my visit to Westover and thought of myself and how I now relate to that song. After many years I am starting to feel sane.