Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 20 - Feb. 26

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 20 - Feb. 26

Rusty: Thank so much for sharing here. Isn't it amazing the havoc alcohol causes in some peoples' lives. It is so emphasized in AA that if you feel even slightly that you might have a drink, call someone in program...it doesn't really matter who. I feel so blessed to have escaped all that craziness one day at a time. I don't take my sobriety for granted for a minute. I know how vulnerable I am & am on guard all the time. Mary

[Doggygirl]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 20 - Feb. 26

Hi all. Rusty, thank you for sharing that story. I haven't heard about it, but I don't watch much news these days. (this story is a good reason why!) I feel bad she is having to endure the humiliation like that. The other story is amazing too. I find the support of the fellowship of AA to be so powerful. Whether a person has ever read the Big Book, gotten a sponsor, worked a step, figured out a higher power, etc. - the people will always be there to help someone not pick up a drink.

Your story reminded me of a time many years ago when I traveled constantly for business. Getting smashed on the plane was a regular part of life. I recall (barely) a woman sitting next to me on a flight asking me if I was a friend of Bill W (when I was shit faced). Obviously she saw a problem I didn't see. At the time, I had no idea who "Bill W" was. I guess she read the situation accurately that I wasn't ready to hear about my problem drinking yet.

I was just talking yesterday with Mr. Doggy about how much richer our relationship is now that substances are no longer a part of it. He does not attend AA at all, but said "I am grateful for all that AA has given me through you."

DG

[retteacher]

Weekly AA Thread - Feb. 20 - Feb. 26

DG: Your post was so uplifting...especially about what your husb said. My 40 year old marriage has reached a level of honesty that we couldn't have had heretofore. I was unable/unwilling to speak up for what I wanted/needed when drinking.

Now that I've finally admitted my alcoholism, I find my radar for it is pretty accurate. I can tell when a person struggles w/drinking even if they aren't obviously drunk. I have a similar story to yours, DG. I went somewhere under the influence. A woman whom I knew was a recovering alcoholic came up to me & asked me if I was "all right." Meaning: "Have you been drinking." I told her I was tired...one of my standard excuses. She just dropped it, but she knew, & I knew she knew.

There's something about the secretiveness of a drinker that tips me off. We went to someone's home for dinner while I was drinking. I was helping clear the table & happened into the kitchen to find the hostess pouring vodka into a glass of orange juice. This was after dinner & drinks were over. She & I had polished off a bottle of wine together. Our husbands are not big drinkers.

At holiday time we went over to this couples' home for a get-together. When I arrived, she immediately told me she had the scotch I used to drink. "How about a little one? Straight up?" I declined, & since the party was mainly about cocktails, we left shortly thereafter.

Sorry about the ramble, but one thought led to another.

Mary