2-25-2025 Conversation with George A presented by Unknown Speaker – 2025-02-25

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Unknown Speaker speaking on "2-25-2025 Conversation with George A" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (February 25, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:04.900 – 00:00:08.019] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:15

[00 00:08.019 – 00:00:10.740] Thanks for joining us tonight.

0:17

[00 00:10.740 – 00:00:11.660] My name is Mike.

0:18

[00 00:11.660 – 00:00:16.600] Tonight we have Conversation With a Longtimer with George A., hosted by Penny P.

0:23

[00 00:16.600 – 00:00:21.519] We meet every Tuesday night at the same time with the same Zoom ID number.

0:28

[00 00:21.519 – 00:00:24.339] Next week we'll have Roger W.

0:30

[00 00:24.339 – 00:00:27.780] presenting Clarence S.' wartime letters.

0:32

[00 00:27.780 – 00:00:35.100] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from all of the past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:39

[00 00:35.100 – 00:00:44.859] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and other 12-step fellowships.

0:46

[00 00:44.859 – 00:00:54.859] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement available for everyone today and in the future.

0:54

[00 00:54.859 – 00:01:01.780] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:00

[00 01:01.780 – 00:01:11.799] Also included in the daily emails are links to the recordings from this meeting, as well as information about our upcoming history, meeting presenters,

1:08

[00 01:11.799 – 00:01:12.519] and topics.

1:09

[00 01:12.519 – 00:01:16.819] If you'd like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link.

1:13

[00 01:16.819 – 00:01:18.959] I'll put that in the chat.

1:15

[00 01:18.959 – 00:01:23.700] Or you can send an email directly at info@recoveryspeakers.com.

1:19

[00 01:23.700 – 00:01:28.859] Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c]3 public charity.

1:22

[00 01:28.859 – 00:01:33.379] If you're able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work.

1:26

[00 01:33.379 – 00:01:37.560] I'll post Venmo and PayPal information in the chat.

1:29

[00 01:37.560 – 00:01:43.959] We'll have Q&A sessions at the end of this meeting.

1:33

[00 01:43.959 – 00:01:49.519] Uh, past recordings of this meeting will be found at another link inside the chat.

1:38

[00 01:49.519 – 00:01:55.019] Uh, please be prepared to, uh, ask your questions.

1:41

[00 01:55.019 – 00:01:56.569] You can write them down as a reference.

1:44

[00 01:56.569 – 00:02:00.760] And I will now turn this over to Penny.

1:47

[00 02:00.760 – 00:02:01.599] Take it away, Penny.

1:49

[00 02:01.599 – 00:02:03.319] Thanks so much.

1:50

[00 02:03.319 – 00:02:03.680] Hi.

1:50

[00 02:03.680 – 00:02:05.099] Penny P., alcoholic.

1:52

[00 02:05.099 – 00:02:11.199] And, um, welcome everyone to the monthly Conversation With a Longtimer meeting.

1:56

[00 02:11.199 – 00:02:21.360] Um, I know several of you have been here before, but for anyone who might be new to this meeting, um, this meeting came about

2:04

[00 02:21.360 – 00:02:31.159] because I was sitting in a history meeting and we were talking about dead alcoholics, and I thought, "But we've got all of these wonderful alcoholics that are still around.

2:13

[00 02:31.159 – 00:02:41.460] Let's talk to them." And, um, of course, when I reached out to, um, to Mike F., I knew that the first person to make a suggestion

2:22

[00 02:41.460 – 00:02:44.879] or make a complaint is the first volunteer.

2:25

[00 02:44.879 – 00:02:55.009] And, uh, so I told him I was willing to do it, and here I am, um, nearly two and a half years later still doing this meeting, and it's one of my

2:35

[00 02:55.009 – 00:03:03.789] favorite service commitments and, and I really appreciate those of you that come back, um, every month to, to hear our conversations with our longtimer.

2:43

[00 03:03.789 – 00:03:09.300] So, um, also for those of you that may be new to the meeting, it is a little different format.

2:50

[00 03:09.300 – 00:03:10.800] It's not a speaker meeting.

2:51

[00 03:10.800 – 00:03:14.310] We're actually gonna have a conversation with our longtimer.

2:55

[00 03:14.310 – 00:03:24.639] Some of you, um, saw the flyer and, um, earlier for this meeting, and, um, I was supposed to be having a conversation this evening

3:03

[00 03:24.639 – 00:03:30.300] with our friend Victor B., and, um, there were some things happening for him this morning.

3:08

[00 03:30.300 – 00:03:40.340] He wasn't sure if he'd be able to make it, and George was willing to step in, and we'll reschedule Victor for an upcoming month, but this way he gets to see kind of

3:19

[00 03:40.340 – 00:03:47.759] the format and, and decide if he needs to come up with an excuse for why he he doesn't wanna do it in a few months.

3:27

[00 03:47.759 – 00:03:51.199] So we're gonna talk with, uh, my friend George A.

3:30

[00 03:51.199 – 00:03:52.599] this, uh, this evening.

3:32

[00 03:52.599 – 00:04:02.819] Um, I've known George for, wow, 30, over 30 years now, and, um, I met George when I first moved to the Bay Area,

3:39

[00 04:02.819 – 00:04:07.639] and, um, have been in meetings with him and have done service with him.

3:44

[00 04:07.639 – 00:04:13.300] So I'm really grateful that George was willing to, uh, to step up and do this.

3:49

[00 04:13.300 – 00:04:23.459] And, um, so I, uh, George, if you would like to, I'm going to ask you to unmute, and if you would unmute and introduce

3:57

[00 04:23.459 – 00:04:28.519] yourself, and I'm going to see if I can pin us side by side.

4:01

[00 04:28.519 – 00:04:30.480] Okay.

4:02

[00 04:30.480 – 00:04:31.220] I am muted.

4:03

[00 04:31.220 – 00:04:32.579] Mkay.

4:04

[00 04:32.579 – 00:04:40.769] Would you like to give us your name, your sobriety date, your home group, and, um- Okay.

4:09

[00 04:40.769 – 00:04:41.639] You got it.

4:11

[00 04:41.639 – 00:04:43.100] My name is George Allen.

4:12

[00 04:43.100 – 00:04:48.839] My sobriety date is 1/11/1975, and my home group is the Danville-Diablo groups.

4:16

[00 04:48.839 – 00:04:50.620] And your sponsor.

4:18

[00 04:50.620 – 00:04:52.459] Frank Dunn.

4:19

[00 04:52.459 – 00:04:53.779] Okay.

4:19

[00 04:53.779 – 00:04:54.899] He's number six.

4:20

[00 04:54.899 – 00:04:57.899] Well, I'm glad to have you here.

4:23

[00 04:57.899 – 00:05:03.579] So, um, as I told you when we talked earlier about this, we're not gonna talk about your drinking.

4:29

[00 05:03.579 – 00:05:10.259] What we're gonna do is talk about the adventure you've had in sobriety, the adventure of Alcoholics Anonymous.

4:35

[00 05:10.259 – 00:05:19.220] But, um, January 11th, 1975, what was going on that you made a connection?

4:39

[00 05:19.220 – 00:05:22.600] Had you made a connection with Alcoholics Anonymous before that?

4:43

[00 05:22.600 – 00:05:26.100] Did you know anything about Alcoholics Anonymous before that?

4:46

[00 05:26.100 – 00:05:32.040] How did you get connected with Alcoholics Anonymous in January of 1975?

4:49

[00 05:32.040 – 00:05:32.980] How did that happen?

4:51

[00 05:32.980 – 00:05:34.560] I went...

4:52

[00 05:34.560 – 00:05:36.779] I came home on a Wednesday afternoon.

4:54

[00 05:36.779 – 00:05:39.699] I hadn't had a drink for a week.

4:57

[00 05:39.699 – 00:05:42.879] The liquor cabinet was calling to me.

5:00

[00 05:42.879 – 00:05:44.220] I had to have a drink.

5:02

[00 05:44.220 – 00:05:50.819] I took a drink and I said, "Oh, shit, I'm gonna be in trouble." And that's the last thing I remember until Saturday morning.

5:09

[00 05:50.819 – 00:05:54.740] And how did you connect with AA?

5:12

[00 05:54.740 – 00:06:00.560] My, I, my wife comes storming down the hallway, puckered.

5:15

[00 06:00.560 – 00:06:02.519] She's waving some paper.

5:17

[00 06:02.519 – 00:06:03.899] I could hear her coming.

5:19

[00 06:03.899 – 00:06:08.899] And you ask a stupid question, "What did I do?" And she told me.

5:23

[00 06:08.899 – 00:06:10.279] I don't know what I did.

5:25

[00 06:10.279 – 00:06:10.939] I still don't know.

5:27

[00 06:10.939 – 00:06:14.480] All she told me was, "You're out of here." Mm.

5:30

[00 06:14.480 – 00:06:16.339] "I filed for divorce.

5:32

[00 06:16.339 – 00:06:17.459] Here's a restraining order.

5:33

[00 06:17.459 – 00:06:24.870] If you don't leave, I'll have you removed." And with desperate times, you gotta take desperate measures.

5:39

[00 06:24.870 – 00:06:26.680] That's all you gotta do.

5:41

[00 06:26.680 – 00:06:28.839] I staggered from the bed.

5:43

[00 06:28.839 – 00:06:29.600] I was sick.

5:44

[00 06:29.600 – 00:06:30.899] Oh, I was, had a hangover.

5:46

[00 06:30.899 – 00:06:31.560] I was sick.

5:47

[00 06:31.560 – 00:06:33.740] I went to the telephone.

5:49

[00 06:33.740 – 00:06:39.430] I asked information for the telephone number of Al- I thought I asked Alcoholics Anonymous-

5:54

[00 06:39.607 – 00:06:39.817] was.

5:55

[00 06:39.817 – 00:06:43.697] And I dialed the number, and two guys answered the phone.

5:58

[00 06:43.697 – 00:06:54.037] One guy was name was Paul Penes, he was a, a f- a fighter pilot aboard the aircraft carrier at NAS Alameda,

6:06

[00 06:54.037 – 00:06:55.736] and the other guy was a guy named Herb Black.

6:09

[00 06:55.736 – 00:06:56.477] They're both dead.

6:10

[00 06:56.477 – 00:07:01.217] And they tried to explain to me how lucky I was.

6:14

[00 07:01.217 – 00:07:06.087] I said, "I don't feel lucky." My wife...

6:17

[00 07:06.087 – 00:07:07.937] I said, "I'm knee-deep in alligators.

6:19

[00 07:07.937 – 00:07:12.377] I don't feel lucky." And they, uh, we take to talk to me and he says...

6:24

[00 07:12.377 – 00:07:12.537] They...

6:25

[00 07:12.537 – 00:07:24.177] I said, "I think I have a drinking problem." He said, "You wanna quit?" I says, "I'm not sure." "You, you think you can quit for an hour?" I says, "Well, yeah." And so they called me every hour on the hour, to,

6:38

[00 07:24.177 – 00:07:26.517] "Make sure you got the plug in the jug, you haven't taken a drink.

6:43

[00 07:26.517 – 00:07:31.197] We'll get somebody out there that, this afternoon." And that's what I did.

6:47

[00 07:31.197 – 00:07:32.197] I answered the phone.

6:49

[00 07:32.197 – 00:07:36.076] And, um, it turns out this was the National Council of Alcoholism.

6:53

[00 07:36.076 – 00:07:37.157] Oh.

6:53

[00 07:37.157 – 00:07:38.737] It wasn't AA.

6:55

[00 07:38.737 – 00:07:43.717] And, um, they said, "You know, you're very lucky.

6:58

[00 07:43.717 – 00:07:45.257] We're not normally here on a Saturday.

7:00

[00 07:45.257 – 00:07:47.317] We had a meeting last night.

7:02

[00 07:47.317 – 00:07:48.277] We ran over.

7:03

[00 07:48.277 – 00:07:58.487] We decided to come here and clean up, and when we, we were in the middle of our cleaning up you rang and we, we answered the phone." And, and, and, um, Paul Penes was a member of the Danville

7:16

[00 07:58.487 – 00:07:58.837] group.

7:17

[00 07:58.837 – 00:08:02.117] His wife Donna and him were both members of AA.

7:20

[00 08:02.117 – 00:08:07.277] And that, that's how I got connected with the Danville/Diablo group.

7:24

[00 08:07.277 – 00:08:08.457] Uh- Okay ...

7:25

[00 08:08.457 – 00:08:14.117] and, uh, they sent John Cleary and Bill Withers.

7:28

[00 08:14.117 – 00:08:14.957] They're both dead.

7:29

[00 08:14.957 – 00:08:15.737] Yeah.

7:30

[00 08:15.737 – 00:08:20.297] One was a, one was a, a 16, he had 16 years of parochial school.

7:34

[00 08:20.297 – 00:08:22.297] He graduated from Santa Clara University.

7:36

[00 08:22.297 – 00:08:25.477] He went to Bellarmine in, in, in, in, in San Jose High School.

7:41

[00 08:25.477 – 00:08:28.397] And Bill, uh, Bill Withers was a Hells Angel.

7:44

[00 08:28.397 – 00:08:33.397] He sold dope on Telegraph Avenue, and that was his sole job, peddling dope.

7:48

[00 08:33.397 – 00:08:41.717] And 14 months or 13 months before I met him, um, he joined AA.

7:52

[00 08:41.717 – 00:08:43.737] And those are the people, they, they...

7:55

[00 08:43.737 – 00:08:46.217] And John had, uh, joined in 1967.

7:57

[00 08:46.217 – 00:08:49.996] That was my introduction to AA.

7:59

[00 08:49.996 – 00:08:55.677] And did they come out and pick you up and take you to a meeting, or did you drive somewhere to meet them?

8:07

[00 08:55.677 – 00:08:57.377] They came out and got me.

8:09

[00 08:57.377 – 00:08:58.477] They came out and got you.

8:11

[00 08:58.477 – 00:08:59.057] Yeah.

8:12

[00 08:59.057 – 00:09:00.757] They came out- And what meeting did they take you to?

8:15

[00 09:00.757 – 00:09:01.126] St.

8:16

[00 09:01.126 – 00:09:03.017] Timothy, Saturday night, 7:30.

8:17

[00 09:03.017 – 00:09:04.417] Wow.

8:18

[00 09:04.417 – 00:09:06.017] It was an hour, it was an hour and a half meeting.

8:22

[00 09:06.017 – 00:09:10.257] I was shaking so bad, I was sick.

8:25

[00 09:10.257 – 00:09:15.897] They gave me a half a cup of coffee and I couldn't even get that to my mouth.

8:30

[00 09:15.897 – 00:09:22.317] So what did you think at your first meeting, sitting in there with these guys and...

8:36

[00 09:22.317 – 00:09:24.517] Well, you've been talking with them all day.

8:38

[00 09:24.517 – 00:09:28.917] Um- Well, when they ca- when they came to my home I tried to convince them I called too soon.

8:45

[00 09:28.917 – 00:09:30.617] I made a mistake.

8:46

[00 09:30.617 – 00:09:32.537] I said, "I don't wanna go to a meeting.

8:49

[00 09:32.537 – 00:09:36.537] I can take care of this myself." That's the insanity of a drunk.

8:54

[00 09:36.537 – 00:09:40.137] He said, "Why don't you do your wife a favor, and maybe you'll get a break.

8:59

[00 09:40.137 – 00:09:41.737] Go to a meeting with us." And I did.

9:02

[00 09:41.737 – 00:09:42.697] That's how I got there.

9:04

[00 09:42.697 – 00:09:43.917] Okay.

9:05

[00 09:43.917 – 00:09:48.537] And so what did they tell you, um, at the me...

9:08

[00 09:48.537 – 00:09:57.277] What did you hear at the meeting, or what did they tell you at the meeting about how m- did they tell you how many meetings you should go to, or did they talk to you about- Oh, yeah ...

9:21

[00 09:57.277 – 00:09:58.497] sponsorship and...?

9:22

[00 09:58.497 – 00:09:59.307] They did.

9:22

[00 09:59.307 – 00:09:59.717] They say you're...

9:24

[00 09:59.717 – 00:10:04.057] The first thing they said, "Whatever you do, don't take the first drink.

9:28

[00 10:04.057 – 00:10:05.617] That's the most important thing.

9:30

[00 10:05.617 – 00:10:09.617] You do it one day at a time, one minute at a time, five minutes at a time.

9:36

[00 10:09.617 – 00:10:20.397] Whatever it takes in order not to take that first drink, you gotta do it." Well, I said, "I can do that." And they said, "Try 90 meetings in 90 days,

9:45

[00 10:20.397 – 00:10:24.017] and if you don't like what we have we gladly refund your misery.

9:49

[00 10:24.017 – 00:10:26.637] Just try it.

9:50

[00 10:26.637 – 00:10:27.757] Just try 90 meetings.

9:52

[00 10:27.757 – 00:10:28.737] Go to a meeting every day.

9:54

[00 10:28.737 – 00:10:32.137] C- uh, come to meeting..." And there was only six meetings in Danville.

9:58

[00 10:32.137 – 00:10:34.517] There was no meetings on Tuesday night.

10:01

[00 10:34.517 – 00:10:35.697] Okay.

10:01

[00 10:35.697 – 00:10:38.777] You either had to go down to Sunol or had to go over to Lafayette.

10:06

[00 10:38.777 – 00:10:43.157] There was only f- there, there wasn't very many meetings in Danville at the time.

10:11

[00 10:43.157 – 00:10:45.697] And, and I made 'em.

10:13

[00 10:45.697 – 00:10:46.537] I made the meetings.

10:15

[00 10:46.537 – 00:10:53.877] And, and I went home that night and I said to my wife, I said, "You know, those guys are a bunch of losers.

10:22

[00 10:53.877 – 00:10:56.297] I, I know all I need to know about not drinking.

10:26

[00 10:56.297 – 00:11:02.277] I don't need to go back." She re- r- she waved the divorce papers at me, and I've been going to meetings ever since.

10:34

[00 11:02.277 – 00:11:08.397] Now, were you living in Danville at the time, or were you up in Walnut Creek?

10:39

[00 11:08.397 – 00:11:10.597] I was living in San Ramon, on, ac- across the road- You were living in...

10:44

[00 11:10.597 – 00:11:11.417] Ah.

10:44

[00 11:11.417 – 00:11:11.657] Yeah.

10:45

[00 11:11.657 – 00:11:13.797] There's a meeting at St.

10:47

[00 11:13.797 – 00:11:15.627] Philip's right across the street from me.

10:49

[00 11:15.627 – 00:11:17.397] Yeah.

10:50

[00 11:17.397 – 00:11:20.637] I didn't know it, but, uh, I went to it a week later.

10:54

[00 11:20.637 – 00:11:25.637] And how often were the meetings at St.

10:57

[00 11:25.637 – 00:11:27.277] Philip's in those days?

10:59

[00 11:27.277 – 00:11:28.937] St.

10:59

[00 11:28.937 – 00:11:34.947] Philip's was, uh, S- Sunday, Friday.

11:01

[00 11:34.947 – 00:11:42.127] I, I think that they, I think there were only, only three meetings at St.

11:06

[00 11:42.127 – 00:11:42.617] Philip's.

11:07

[00 11:42.617 – 00:11:42.917] I can't...

11:08

[00 11:42.917 – 00:11:48.977] I think Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday was...

11:10

[00 11:48.977 – 00:11:51.677] Thursday, Thursday s- Okay ...

11:12

[00 11:51.677 – 00:11:55.757] Thursday, Friday, and S- and Saturday was it at, at, at, at, at St.

11:16

[00 11:55.757 – 00:11:56.297] Philip's.

11:17

[00 11:56.297 – 00:11:59.507] And was Bill Mason at those meetings in those days?

11:20

[00 11:59.507 – 00:11:59.507] Yeah?

11:21

[00 11:59.507 – 00:12:00.477] Oh, he'd always come down.

11:23

[00 12:00.477 – 00:12:01.137] Bill, yes.

11:24

[00 12:01.137 – 00:12:02.217] Yeah.

11:24

[00 12:02.217 – 00:12:03.387] Yeah, he was a character.

11:26

[00 12:03.387 – 00:12:06.317] Bill, Bill was a, stirred the pot real, real, a whole lot.

11:30

[00 12:06.317 – 00:12:08.017] He really did.

11:32

[00 12:08.017 – 00:12:08.717] He was a good guy.

11:33

[00 12:08.717 – 00:12:11.577] So did you get a big book?

11:36

[00 12:11.577 – 00:12:13.097] How soon did you get a big book?

11:39

[00 12:13.097 – 00:12:13.997] They gave me one.

11:40

[00 12:13.997 – 00:12:15.937] They gave you one.

11:42

[00 12:15.937 – 00:12:16.797] Yeah, they gave me one.

11:44

[00 12:16.797 – 00:12:17.996] Says, "You take it with you.

11:46

[00 12:17.996 – 00:12:22.447] You don't have five bucks on you, you can pay us next time." And that pulled out fine.

11:52

[00 12:22.447 – 00:12:24.657] I'm not gonna owe you any money if I gave him five bucks.

11:56

[00 12:24.657 – 00:12:31.397] And so, um, you started going to meetings, and you're reading...

12:00

[00 12:31.397 – 00:12:32.577] Are you reading the book?

12:01

[00 12:32.577 – 00:12:33.517] Are they taking you...

12:03

[00 12:33.517 – 00:12:33.917] Did you...

12:04

[00 12:33.917 – 00:12:35.797] How soon before you got a sponsor?

12:06

[00 12:35.797 – 00:12:41.237] Well, John and Bill, I guess they can say 12-step me.

12:10

[00 12:41.237 – 00:12:43.757] I guess they were my sponsors tech- technically.

12:13

[00 12:43.757 – 00:12:45.257] That was the way it worked.

12:15

[00 12:45.257 – 00:12:48.397] They called me every day or I called them every day.

12:19

[00 12:48.397 – 00:12:53.137] But I, the three of us, we talked every day for, for, for 90 days.

12:23

[00 12:53.137 – 00:12:59.137] And the reason why I made 87 meetings in 90 days, my mother-in-law came over to visit.

12:28

[00 12:59.137 – 00:13:06.187] I couldn't stand that woman, and I wasn't gonna let her know that I was a drunk, and I wasn't gonna stay...

12:35

[00 13:06.187 – 00:13:07.897] I wasn't gonna go to meetings while she was there.

12:39

[00 13:07.897 – 00:13:09.457] I'd show her.

12:40

[00 13:09.457 – 00:13:11.457] But you know, that wasn't a smart move.

12:43

[00 13:11.457 – 00:13:13.017] I should've gone whether she was there or not.

12:46

[00 13:13.017 – 00:13:15.677] But I made 87 in 90 days.

12:48

[00 13:15.677 – 00:13:16.957] Okay.

12:48

[00 13:16.957 – 00:13:18.827] On the 90-

12:49

[00 13:19.112 – 00:13:28.462] day they, uh, Bill and John called me up, says, "What do you wanna do with the rest of your life?" I says, "I'm not sure." He said, "What do you mean?" He said, "You wanna quit or you want your misery back?" That's what they asked me.

13:04

[00 13:28.462 – 00:13:32.462] If you wanna stay, you have to wanna quit.

13:07

[00 13:32.462 – 00:13:38.762] You can't take the first step unless you wanna quit drinking once and for all with no attachments.

13:13

[00 13:38.762 – 00:13:39.902] Okay.

13:14

[00 13:39.902 – 00:13:46.781] And I said, "I'll see you tonight at the meeting." And I got my 90-day certificate.

13:19

[00 13:46.781 – 00:13:48.342] They all signed it from the meeting.

13:22

[00 13:48.342 – 00:13:49.222] I got it here in my drawer.

13:24

[00 13:49.222 – 00:13:49.762] I still got it.

13:26

[00 13:49.762 – 00:13:50.882] Really?

13:26

[00 13:50.882 – 00:13:53.922] I got the sign-in sheet from my very first meeting.

13:30

[00 13:53.922 – 00:13:54.762] I still got that.

13:31

[00 13:54.762 – 00:13:55.962] Wow.

13:32

[00 13:55.962 – 00:13:58.042] Yeah, I know the exact date.

13:34

[00 13:58.042 – 00:13:58.762] It was Saturday night.

13:35

[00 13:58.762 – 00:13:59.022] Yeah.

13:36

[00 13:59.022 – 00:14:03.842] You need to make sure those make it to the archives.

13:40

[00 14:03.842 – 00:14:05.082] I'll give them to you.

13:42

[00 14:05.082 – 00:14:05.362] Yeah.

13:42

[00 14:05.362 – 00:14:06.842] Yeah.

13:43

[00 14:06.842 – 00:14:07.712] Mm-hmm.

13:43

[00 14:07.712 – 00:14:10.582] So, um, so did you...

13:45

[00 14:10.582 – 00:14:16.382] How much were you reading the book and doing the steps, talking about the steps?

13:50

[00 14:16.382 – 00:14:18.502] Was there a step study in those days?

13:53

[00 14:18.502 – 00:14:19.142] No.

13:54

[00 14:19.142 – 00:14:20.002] No.

13:54

[00 14:20.002 – 00:14:24.022] What, the only book study we had was over on Amador.

13:58

[00 14:24.022 – 00:14:28.122] It was on Fridays at the church there, a Friday noon meeting.

14:02

[00 14:28.122 – 00:14:29.902] It was a 12 by 12 meeting.

14:04

[00 14:29.902 – 00:14:32.602] Okay.

14:04

[00 14:32.602 – 00:14:34.062] There was none...

14:06

[00 14:34.062 – 00:14:39.082] There was no, there was no book study at, at Danville or St.

14:10

[00 14:39.082 – 00:14:39.462] Tim's.

14:11

[00 14:39.462 – 00:14:40.562] Okay.

14:11

[00 14:40.562 – 00:14:43.112] There was none whatsoever, but St.

14:13

[00 14:43.112 – 00:14:47.342] Philip's had a, had a, had a book meeting, I think it was on Monday night.

14:19

[00 14:47.342 – 00:14:50.392] Okay.

14:19

[00 14:50.392 – 00:14:55.622] There was only two meetings I went to, but Bill and John both told me, "If you make one meeting a week, it has to be a book study.

14:28

[00 14:55.622 – 00:15:01.262] That's the most import- important part of, of, of your, your recovery- Okay ...

14:33

[00 15:01.262 – 00:15:09.502] reading other people's view on the same material you read." And what did you think of the book when you started reading it?

14:40

[00 15:09.502 – 00:15:11.942] Could you identify with Bill's story?

14:42

[00 15:11.942 – 00:15:15.712] D- did you, or did you recognize anything in the doctor's opinion?

14:46

[00 15:15.712 – 00:15:25.422] I know that this is looking back a ways, but, um, what was your, what were your thoughts about the Big Book, and did you think the steps were gonna work for you?

14:57

[00 15:25.422 – 00:15:27.302] Did you think this was, was gonna work?

15:00

[00 15:27.302 – 00:15:30.422] Well, see, I wasn't worried that far out.

15:02

[00 15:30.422 – 00:15:33.042] Like, 'cause I think I had a hell of a time not drinking.

15:07

[00 15:33.042 – 00:15:35.222] I was just holding onto the seat of my pants.

15:10

[00 15:35.222 – 00:15:38.962] Let me tell you, those first 90 days were miserable.

15:13

[00 15:38.962 – 00:15:42.222] I ran a little bit when I could.

15:16

[00 15:42.222 – 00:15:43.022] I'd sit in the chair.

15:18

[00 15:43.022 – 00:15:44.382] My wife wasn't talking to me.

15:20

[00 15:44.382 – 00:15:45.842] The kids weren't talking to me.

15:22

[00 15:45.842 – 00:15:51.052] We bought this big home in, in, in, in San Ramon, a big, big model home.

15:27

[00 15:51.052 – 00:15:53.032] She'd be upstairs in the bedroom.

15:29

[00 15:53.032 – 00:15:56.202] I'd be downstairs in the chair reading, trying to do the best I can.

15:34

[00 15:56.202 – 00:15:57.282] I'd fall asleep in the chair.

15:36

[00 15:57.282 – 00:16:05.982] But you'd have to be blind, really not, not to relate to that if you're an alcoholic, whether you wanna quit or not.

15:44

[00 16:05.982 – 00:16:09.922] It w- th- th- there, there's not...

15:46

[00 16:09.922 – 00:16:14.362] The, Bill's story, I had to go back three or four times to understand it.

15:51

[00 16:14.362 – 00:16:17.762] But the more I read it, the more it, more I can relate to.

15:56

[00 16:17.762 – 00:16:20.502] It was just something else.

15:57

[00 16:20.502 – 00:16:21.422] Uh, Dr.

15:58

[00 16:21.422 – 00:16:24.702] Bob was the one I related to more than I did Bill, for some reason or another.

16:04

[00 16:24.702 – 00:16:25.602] Okay.

16:05

[00 16:25.602 – 00:16:27.462] But I love Dr.

16:06

[00 16:27.462 – 00:16:34.222] Bob's story, the way he closes hi- his, his, uh, his nightmare, the last paragraph of that.

16:12

[00 16:34.222 – 00:16:34.272] Mm-hmm.

16:12

[00 16:34.272 – 00:16:35.482] I loved that very much so.

16:14

[00 16:35.482 – 00:16:39.782] If you're an atheist or an agnostic, you think you can do this on your own, my hats are off to you.

16:21

[00 16:39.782 – 00:16:40.702] That's what he tells you.

16:23

[00 16:40.702 – 00:16:47.222] You had, with the half the zeal you would in getting a drink, you, your God, your heavenly Father will never let you down.

16:31

[00 16:47.222 – 00:16:48.102] That's what he says.

16:33

[00 16:48.102 – 00:16:53.082] But you know, I, I haven't had a drink.

16:36

[00 16:53.082 – 00:16:54.222] I've wanted to drink a lot.

16:38

[00 16:54.222 – 00:16:59.012] The craving just didn't go away from me for a long time, and when Doc- when Dr.

16:43

[00 16:59.012 – 00:17:05.742] Bob wrote that he had that, that long craving, I said, "Okay, then I'm not so bad then." I thought I was doing something wrong.

16:51

[00 17:05.742 – 00:17:11.822] And I found out some people just have to crave the, crave the drink a lot longer than others after they quit.

16:58

[00 17:11.822 – 00:17:12.822] And, um, and that's- Mm-hmm ...

17:00

[00 17:12.822 – 00:17:14.962] what, uh, settled, settled me in.

17:02

[00 17:14.962 – 00:17:21.102] Did, um, what time, what was your first service commitment in AA?

17:06

[00 17:21.102 – 00:17:26.322] Making, picking up chairs, cleaning ashtrays.

17:09

[00 17:26.322 – 00:17:29.582] And John said, "No, no.

17:10

[00 17:29.582 – 00:17:31.762] The first three meetings you don't do anything.

17:13

[00 17:31.762 – 00:17:37.272] The third meeting, you start cleaning up these ashtrays and putting the chairs against the wall." And that's what I did.

17:20

[00 17:37.272 – 00:17:41.062] My first commitment, really s- assigned, was making coffee.

17:23

[00 17:41.062 – 00:17:44.241] I had it for a year.

17:25

[00 17:44.241 – 00:17:45.062] I didn't wanna give it up.

17:27

[00 17:45.062 – 00:17:47.202] I felt- ...

17:28

[00 17:47.202 – 00:17:50.162] somebody's gonna make coffee like me, but I, I had to give it up.

17:33

[00 17:50.162 – 00:17:54.142] Yeah, we smoked a lot in those days, too, didn't we?

17:37

[00 17:54.142 – 00:17:55.702] I, I smoked Little Camels, yeah.

17:39

[00 17:55.702 – 00:17:56.862] Yeah.

17:39

[00 17:56.862 – 00:17:57.622] Yeah.

17:40

[00 17:57.622 – 00:17:57.942] Yeah.

17:41

[00 17:57.942 – 00:17:59.782] That cast of characters at that meeting.

17:43

[00 17:59.782 – 00:18:02.542] We had people with long-term sobriety there, there back there then.

17:47

[00 18:02.542 – 00:18:10.602] Don Preble and Madge and, uh, uh, Miz, they had over...

17:51

[00 18:10.602 – 00:18:13.062] A- and Clarence, they had over 25 years.

17:53

[00 18:13.062 – 00:18:14.422] Yeah.

17:54

[00 18:14.422 – 00:18:18.722] And then you had, uh, Joe, Joe D from Livermore.

17:57

[00 18:18.722 – 00:18:19.962] He was a, he was a garbage man.

18:00

[00 18:19.962 – 00:18:22.942] He had over, he had 25, 26 years when I got sober.

18:03

[00 18:22.942 – 00:18:24.322] Long-term sobriety.

18:04

[00 18:24.322 – 00:18:25.142] Yeah.

18:05

[00 18:25.142 – 00:18:28.622] But they didn't have very many meetings in Livermore.

18:08

[00 18:28.622 – 00:18:29.422] No, we didn't.

18:09

[00 18:29.422 – 00:18:31.142] They didn't have very many at all.

18:11

[00 18:31.142 – 00:18:33.082] Uh, they had the Rock House.

18:14

[00 18:33.082 – 00:18:35.722] I went out there several times, and it was, it was this nice place.

18:18

[00 18:35.722 – 00:18:38.102] But there weren't very many meetings out there.

18:21

[00 18:38.102 – 00:18:39.282] Most of them came to Danville.

18:23

[00 18:39.282 – 00:18:40.702] A lot of women came to Danville.

18:26

[00 18:40.702 – 00:18:43.042] Yeah.

18:26

[00 18:43.042 – 00:18:44.922] It, it's interesting, the people you met.

18:29

[00 18:44.922 – 00:18:45.602] It was wonderful.

18:30

[00 18:45.602 – 00:18:49.982] Uh, did your wife go to Al-Anon?

18:32

[00 18:49.982 – 00:18:51.162] She did.

18:33

[00 18:51.162 – 00:18:54.682] Oh, she absolutely did.

18:35

[00 18:54.682 – 00:18:57.442] She didn't wanna go, but she went.

18:37

[00 18:57.442 – 00:18:58.502] Okay.

18:38

[00 18:58.502 – 00:18:59.702] Okay.

18:39

[00 18:59.702 – 00:19:02.222] And she sort of tapered off.

18:41

[00 19:02.222 – 00:19:05.522] Uh, it just wasn't gonna...

18:43

[00 19:05.522 – 00:19:07.782] I think, I think, uh, very fortunate for both of us.

18:46

[00 19:07.782 – 00:19:09.302] It, we knew it wasn't gonna work.

18:49

[00 19:09.302 – 00:19:09.632] Yeah.

18:49

[00 19:09.632 – 00:19:11.622] Drunk or sober, our marriage wasn't gonna work.

18:52

[00 19:11.622 – 00:19:17.182] We had two small kids, and we tried the best we could for five years.

18:57

[00 19:17.182 – 00:19:24.942] After five years of, of, of sobriety, I, we...

19:00

[00 19:24.942 – 00:19:27.792] I knew it was time for me to leave, and I asked her.

19:04

[00 19:27.792 – 00:19:30.762] I says, "Hey, if you don't file for divorce, I will.

19:08

[00 19:30.762 – 00:19:34.862] Uh, we'll have to take our chances on our own." And that's what happened.

19:13

[00 19:34.862 – 00:19:36.262] After five years, we got divorced.

19:15

[00 19:36.262 – 00:19:43.042] And I'm not saying, I'm not saying I was happy about it, but I thought it would be the best thing for us, and it is.

19:23

[00 19:43.042 – 00:19:43.262] Yeah.

19:24

[00 19:43.262 – 00:19:45.882] It was, and, and, and it worked out.

19:27

[00 19:45.882 – 00:19:53.462] So, um, 1970, you're doing some 12-step calls in those days, too.

19:30

[00 19:53.462 – 00:19:54.382] Oh, I did.

19:32

[00 19:54.382 – 00:19:54.662] Yeah.

19:32

[00 19:54.662 – 00:19:56.582] Yeah, just like they did on you.

19:35

[00 19:56.582 – 00:19:58.482] So do you remember going-

19:37

[00 19:58.667 – 00:20:02.917] On your first 12-step call or one of your first 12-step calls, what were those like?

19:42

[00 20:02.917 – 00:20:06.007] I went on my very first one with two weeks.

19:45

[00 20:06.007 – 00:20:07.147] Oof.

19:46

[00 20:07.147 – 00:20:13.747] Two weeks of sobriety, John calls up, "You live in San..." You, uh, calls, "Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, we got a guy two blocks down from you.

19:54

[00 20:13.747 – 00:20:17.577] Go pick him up and take him." "I don't know if I wanna quit." He says, "Nothing to do with it.

20:01

[00 20:17.577 – 00:20:18.747] Go pick up, pick him up.

20:03

[00 20:18.747 – 00:20:21.327] Here's the address and phone number." I went and got him.

20:07

[00 20:21.327 – 00:20:27.987] He asked me, well, I, I says, I, "Hey, I don't know if I wanna go drinking yet." I was so...

20:14

[00 20:27.987 – 00:20:30.287] I didn't wanna pick him up, but I got him.

20:17

[00 20:30.287 – 00:20:31.247] I got him to St.

20:19

[00 20:31.247 – 00:20:33.127] Timothy's and got him home.

20:21

[00 20:33.127 – 00:20:34.407] I never saw him again, though.

20:23

[00 20:34.407 – 00:20:38.487] I don't think I was a, I was a good man to ta- pick him up, but I did.

20:29

[00 20:38.487 – 00:20:40.747] But we always went in twos.

20:31

[00 20:40.747 – 00:20:41.727] Right.

20:32

[00 20:41.727 – 00:20:44.527] We always went in twos on 12-step calls.

20:35

[00 20:44.527 – 00:20:46.907] We made a lot of, I made a lot of 12-step calls with John.

20:39

[00 20:46.907 – 00:20:48.307] John was on the phone list.

20:42

[00 20:48.307 – 00:20:50.707] He'd always take me on them.

20:44

[00 20:50.707 – 00:20:55.107] God, I must have, in that first year, I must have done a dozen, maybe two dozen phone calls.

20:50

[00 20:55.107 – 00:20:56.077] John, they always called him.

20:52

[00 20:56.077 – 00:21:03.007] "Hey, what are you doing?" I said, "I, well, we're going." "I'll pick you up." We picked him up, and we brought him to meetings.

21:00

[00 21:03.007 – 00:21:05.687] Uh, the treatment centers weren't too many.

21:02

[00 21:05.687 – 00:21:09.707] It was Duffy's and Truman's, and that was all I knew of.

21:06

[00 21:09.707 – 00:21:13.907] Uh, Myrtleville Farms, and, and that was Truman's, yeah, and Duffy's.

21:10

[00 21:13.907 – 00:21:17.237] That's the only two, uh, detoxes they had.

21:13

[00 21:17.237 – 00:21:18.367] Um- What was Truman's?

21:14

[00 21:18.367 – 00:21:22.607] I tell you, Tr- Truman's was a, was, was a, it was a, it was a recovery home.

21:20

[00 21:22.607 – 00:21:26.227] Myrtledale Farms, I think it was called.

21:22

[00 21:26.227 – 00:21:30.267] And Duffy's was in Calistoga.

21:24

[00 21:30.267 – 00:21:31.177] Right.

21:25

[00 21:31.177 – 00:21:41.267] Yeah, and I'd been to Duffy's, and they always told us, "If you're gonna take a guy to Duffy's, take a half pint with you, 'cause the guy might wanna jump

21:35

[00 21:41.267 – 00:21:44.747] out of the car." So you take a half pint to g- give him a sip now and then.

21:41

[00 21:44.747 – 00:21:46.467] That'll keep him in the backseat until you get there.

21:44

[00 21:46.467 – 00:21:50.267] And you always put 'em in the backseat, didn't we?

21:48

[00 21:50.267 – 00:21:50.417] Yeah, we did.

21:49

[00 21:50.417 – 00:21:51.077] Always put 'em in the backseat.

21:51

[00 21:51.077 – 00:21:52.457] They don't wanna grab the steering wheel, yeah.

21:54

[00 21:52.457 – 00:21:53.447] Put 'em in the backseat.

21:56

[00 21:53.447 – 00:21:55.607] Yep.

21:56

[00 21:55.607 – 00:22:00.227] So, um, how long before you started sponsoring?

21:59

[00 22:00.227 – 00:22:10.187] My first guy I sponsored, um, let me see.

22:02

[00 22:10.187 – 00:22:13.247] I had, heck, I, I, heck, I talked to him not too long ago.

22:07

[00 22:13.247 – 00:22:16.267] Oh, not too long ago, seven, eight years ago.

22:10

[00 22:16.267 – 00:22:18.387] Wayne Hamlin.

22:11

[00 22:18.387 – 00:22:20.767] He lived in Pleasanton.

22:12

[00 22:20.767 – 00:22:25.307] He came to the San Ramon meetings, and my sponsor, John, was sponsoring him.

22:17

[00 22:25.307 – 00:22:30.687] And, uh, I was close to a year, not quite.

22:20

[00 22:30.687 – 00:22:41.037] And John says, "What are you doing for the next three or four weeks?" I says, "Nothing." "What do you mean nothing?" I says, "Well, I'm just going to meetings like I normally do, nothing." He says,

22:32

[00 22:41.037 – 00:22:42.487] "I got this guy I've been working with.

22:35

[00 22:42.487 – 00:22:51.687] I want you to take care of him for me until I get back." And I've had him since.

22:41

[00 22:51.687 – 00:22:54.287] We've been together ever since.

22:43

[00 22:54.287 – 00:22:56.667] I've, I, I w- I met his family.

22:46

[00 22:56.667 – 00:22:59.827] I met h- h- his, his daughters, everybody.

22:48

[00 22:59.827 – 00:23:00.987] He, he's just a wonderful man.

22:51

[00 23:00.987 – 00:23:02.387] Absolutely a wonderful man.

22:52

[00 23:02.387 – 00:23:03.367] He was a schoolteacher.

22:54

[00 23:03.367 – 00:23:05.007] He was an art teacher at Oak...

22:56

[00 23:05.007 – 00:23:08.227] In fact, he taught, uh, art at the high school I graduated from.

23:00

[00 23:08.227 – 00:23:09.887] Oh, my goodness.

23:02

[00 23:09.887 – 00:23:10.487] Yeah.

23:02

[00 23:10.487 – 00:23:16.367] So, um, what kind of...

23:04

[00 23:16.367 – 00:23:20.907] What was the fellowship like in the Danville/Diablo area?

23:08

[00 23:20.907 – 00:23:28.317] Did you do, um, things outside of the meetings, uh, potlucks or, or get-togethers- Yeah ...

23:12

[00 23:28.317 – 00:23:29.667] any of those kinds of things?

23:15

[00 23:29.667 – 00:23:30.747] What were those like?

23:16

[00 23:30.747 – 00:23:35.287] And, and were, did the families participate, or was it just the alcoholics?

23:21

[00 23:35.287 – 00:23:37.047] It depends.

23:21

[00 23:37.047 – 00:23:38.467] On Wednesday nights, St.

23:23

[00 23:38.467 – 00:23:43.147] Timothy, we had Alateen, Al-Anon, and AA meetings, all three of them at the same time.

23:28

[00 23:43.147 – 00:23:53.147] And on Wednesday night, uh, the women would bring ca- uh, bake cakes and all kinds of good things for, for us during the meeting, and we used to go up

23:38

[00 23:53.147 – 00:23:57.287] to Big Bob's, right up the reet- street, uh, on Diablo Road.

23:42

[00 23:57.287 – 00:23:58.207] Oh, yeah.

23:43

[00 23:58.207 – 00:23:58.237] And get...

23:44

[00 23:58.237 – 00:24:00.327] Uh, it used to stay open until, till midnight.

23:47

[00 24:00.327 – 00:24:03.847] We'd always be there until we closed every night, till midnight.

23:51

[00 24:03.847 – 00:24:07.687] We'd say, "Can't do this no more," and we'd do it again the next night, next night.

23:56

[00 24:07.687 – 00:24:12.547] And they told us, "Well, n- if nobody died of lack of sleep, you'll be fine." And it did.

24:02

[00 24:12.547 – 00:24:21.807] It made it exciting for me, 'cause I never had anybody who I could talk to who would listen to me, and the other people felt the same way.

24:12

[00 24:21.807 – 00:24:24.007] We'd joke, and we'd laugh.

24:14

[00 24:24.007 – 00:24:33.727] And we ended up, little did we know, that the owner of that, that place came up and asked us one night where we were all from.

24:22

[00 24:33.727 – 00:24:39.447] We said, "We're from AA." He didn't say a word and left.

24:26

[00 24:39.447 – 00:24:43.327] The next night, he showed up at a AA meeting.

24:30

[00 24:43.327 – 00:24:45.626] He did.

24:30

[00 24:45.626 – 00:24:46.667] Yeah, he did.

24:32

[00 24:46.667 – 00:24:50.107] He was working at the central office there, and he volunteered all kinds of work.

24:37

[00 24:50.107 – 00:24:50.847] Yeah, he did.

24:38

[00 24:50.847 – 00:24:53.247] Yeah.

24:38

[00 24:53.247 – 00:24:56.097] Yeah, I remember going over there to Bob's- Oh, yeah ...

24:42

[00 24:56.097 – 00:24:58.527] um, when I first moved here to the area.

24:45

[00 24:58.527 – 00:25:01.507] And, uh, I came, I was in the area...

24:48

[00 25:01.507 – 00:25:05.287] Well, you were 11 years sober, I think, when I came to the area.

24:52

[00 25:05.287 – 00:25:05.837] Probably.

24:53

[00 25:05.837 – 00:25:07.507] 'Cause I came here in '86.

24:55

[00 25:07.507 – 00:25:08.737] Yeah.

24:56

[00 25:08.737 – 00:25:09.867] And, uh, yeah.

24:57

[00 25:09.867 – 00:25:17.637] So now the Danville/Diablo speaker meeting, big speaker meeting once a month on Saturday nights, coming up- Yeah ...

25:03

[00 25:17.637 – 00:25:21.927] this coming Saturday, um, when did that get started?

25:06

[00 25:21.927 – 00:25:23.607] I know that, um...

25:08

[00 25:23.607 – 00:25:31.777] Oh, let's talk about Polish Denise and, and some of the, some of the other characters that you went to meetings with, 'cause d- Oh, boy ...

25:16

[00 25:31.777 – 00:25:34.467] wasn't Polish Denise part of getting that meeting started?

25:19

[00 25:34.467 – 00:25:35.127] She was.

25:20

[00 25:35.127 – 00:25:36.187] Yeah, she was a catalyst.

25:22

[00 25:36.187 – 00:25:40.187] Um, I went to my first speakers meeting at St.

25:25

[00 25:40.187 – 00:25:42.227] Timothy's on a Saturday night.

25:27

[00 25:42.227 – 00:25:52.247] We didn't have a sp- uh, Saturday night, the discussion meeting would be canceled, and the people from CPC in

25:34

[00 25:52.247 – 00:25:59.027] Danville would put it on in the, in the, in, in room number four, and one of our members would speak.

25:40

[00 25:59.027 – 00:26:03.617] And if we got over f- 30 people, we'd get the auditorium at CPC.

25:45

[00 26:03.617 – 00:26:05.487] It would have it in there.

25:47

[00 26:05.487 – 00:26:06.927] And Denise was it.

25:48

[00 26:06.927 – 00:26:16.507] I went there, uh, when we had it in the auditorium, and she says, "Can you read?" I says, "I think so, but not very well." Says, "You're gonna sh- be up there, and you're gonna introduce." Oh, it made a nervous wreck out of me.

26:03

[00 26:16.507 – 00:26:19.947] And so I introduced this woman, and she was just terrific.

26:07

[00 26:19.947 – 00:26:22.227] But Denise was a catalyst for that.

26:09

[00 26:22.227 – 00:26:23.407] She, uh, kept it going.

26:11

[00 26:23.407 – 00:26:27.687] Um, then Jack Burton, Happy Jack, he did a lot.

26:14

[00 26:27.687 – 00:26:30.246] He, he, he must have did it for about three or four years in a row.

26:20

[00 26:30.246 – 00:26:31.427] Yeah.

26:20

[00 26:31.427 – 00:26:37.487] Before, "I can't do it anymore." But he went up to the, uh, the junior high school up the street there on, on Mount Diablo Boulevard.

26:28

[00 26:38.172 – 00:26:40.932] Where we had the, uh, janitor sitting there every night.

26:32

[00 26:40.932 – 00:26:41.912] He was drunk.

26:33

[00 26:41.912 – 00:26:45.572] And he's asking me what we're doing, so we're doing a meeting.

26:37

[00 26:45.572 – 00:26:46.911] He- we didn't tell him we were from AA.

26:40

[00 26:46.911 – 00:26:47.812] He was sitting, there was...

26:42

[00 26:47.812 – 00:26:50.292] We put the chairs up, we'd take them down.

26:45

[00 26:50.292 – 00:26:54.832] I think we o- we didn't, only did everything except for walk him to his car so he wouldn't fall over.

26:52

[00 26:54.832 – 00:26:58.212] Then he finally asked what we were doing.

26:55

[00 26:58.212 – 00:27:03.492] We said, "This is an AA meeting." That didn't come into, that he, that wasn't too clear to him, but he was a character.

27:02

[00 27:03.492 – 00:27:05.392] He was a good guy.

27:04

[00 27:05.392 – 00:27:06.562] But they, they took good care of us.

27:07

[00 27:06.562 – 00:27:08.562] We just couldn't afford to continue to pay them.

27:10

[00 27:08.562 – 00:27:12.932] They wanted such a price that we, we just didn't have the money to do it.

27:15

[00 27:12.932 – 00:27:16.412] And we went back to CPC and, um, talked to Pastor Schick.

27:19

[00 27:16.412 – 00:27:18.112] Orville Schick was the guy.

27:21

[00 27:18.112 – 00:27:24.772] And he's the same guy that, that, that, that let us get the young people's meeting started again.

27:27

[00 27:24.772 – 00:27:29.072] And our, Orville Schick, you put John Cleary and him next to, you thought they were identical twins.

27:33

[00 27:29.072 – 00:27:31.301] You couldn't tell them one from another.

27:35

[00 27:31.301 – 00:27:40.812] And, um, he said, "Yeah, you can have, you can have the church." He let us have it, and we went over and talked to him, and we said he can have it.

27:46

[00 27:40.812 – 00:27:46.312] And we started having meetings there, and, um, I was 13.

27:49

[00 27:46.312 – 00:27:52.452] That'd be, uh, 1988.

27:50

[00 27:52.452 – 00:27:59.252] Thir- I had thir- I celebrated my 13th birthday as secretary of that meeting at tw- at 87, 88, it's each year.

27:57

[00 27:59.252 – 00:28:01.772] And it, it grew.

27:58

[00 28:01.772 – 00:28:03.052] It just kept on growing.

28:00

[00 28:03.052 – 00:28:06.372] Uh, you know, the, the, the people were all sincere.

28:04

[00 28:06.372 – 00:28:08.612] They, they, they did not mess around with the sobriety.

28:07

[00 28:08.612 – 00:28:14.612] I don't care whether you're from rich, rich communities or poor communities, these guys just did not mess around with your sobriety.

28:14

[00 28:14.612 – 00:28:16.312] They used to call it chipping around.

28:17

[00 28:16.312 – 00:28:16.992] You want to chip around?

28:18

[00 28:16.992 – 00:28:17.812] Go out and get drunk.

28:20

[00 28:17.812 – 00:28:21.492] If you think you're a quart short, go out and drink it before you come here.

28:26

[00 28:21.492 – 00:28:26.392] If you want to quit drinking and you're serious about it, you come on in here and we'll take good care of you.

28:33

[00 28:26.392 – 00:28:29.952] I, I, I can't believe they talked to people like that, but they did.

28:38

[00 28:29.952 – 00:28:31.472] Mm-hmm.

28:38

[00 28:31.472 – 00:28:32.572] They really did.

28:39

[00 28:32.572 – 00:28:37.612] Uh, I seen a lady get carried into that, that, that meeting at CPC.

28:44

[00 28:37.612 – 00:28:39.612] I, I didn't think she was gonna make it home.

28:47

[00 28:39.612 – 00:28:43.732] Her head was shaking.

28:49

[00 28:43.732 – 00:28:44.992] They carried her into the meeting.

28:51

[00 28:44.992 – 00:28:52.952] She sat down, and she ended up dying after 20 years of sobriety, Margie P., Margie Preston.

28:56

[00 28:52.952 – 00:28:54.992] She lived right there in Danville, not far from the church.

29:00

[00 28:54.992 – 00:29:00.192] She was a wonderful lady, uh, but, you know, you never know who's gonna make it.

29:05

[00 29:00.192 – 00:29:02.732] Uh, everybody that comes to AA, they don't, they don't make it.

29:09

[00 29:02.732 – 00:29:07.652] But the ones that are here, no matter how long you are, be grateful for what you got.

29:15

[00 29:07.652 – 00:29:12.232] Not what you want, just be grateful for what you got.

29:19

[00 29:12.232 – 00:29:13.352] That's what they used to tell us.

29:21

[00 29:13.352 – 00:29:15.292] You're not drinking.

29:23

[00 29:15.292 – 00:29:20.132] Your life is gonna get better, and I guarantee if you go back to drinking, your life's gonna get worse.

29:29

[00 29:20.132 – 00:29:21.332] Yeah.

29:30

[00 29:21.332 – 00:29:22.972] They'll guarantee you that.

29:31

[00 29:22.972 – 00:29:33.512] Now, I know you were in your 30s when you got sober, but I know that you had a lot to do with getting young peeps,

29:39

[00 29:33.512 – 00:29:38.552] um, active b- back in, um, in the Danville/Diablo area.

29:43

[00 29:38.552 – 00:29:46.502] Um, how did that come about, and what motivated you and how did, who was a part of that- Well- ...

29:50

[00 29:46.502 – 00:29:47.572] getting young peeps going?

29:51

[00 29:47.572 – 00:29:52.122] We had the, we had the, we had the trifecta on Wednesday at St, at St.

29:56

[00 29:52.122 – 00:29:58.552] Timothy's, the Al-Anon, the, uh, the, the Alateen, and we had the AA meeting.

30:01

[00 29:58.552 – 00:30:00.352] And it, we, we had quite a few people there.

30:04

[00 30:00.352 – 00:30:05.172] It'd be be- between the three meetings, we'd have, oh, pretty close to 100 people, maybe more.

30:10

[00 30:05.172 – 00:30:08.232] And one night, John came up to me.

30:12

[00 30:08.232 – 00:30:10.252] He said, "You know, we got a lot of young people in here.

30:17

[00 30:10.252 – 00:30:13.032] It's gotta be real hard for them.

30:19

[00 30:13.032 – 00:30:19.412] Why don't we go over and talk to sh- talk to Pastor sh- talk to CPC and let them in again?" They got thrown out once.

30:28

[00 30:19.412 – 00:30:24.952] They, they weren't, they weren't trying to stay sober.

30:31

[00 30:24.952 – 00:30:25.732] They were partying.

30:32

[00 30:25.732 – 00:30:26.532] They were drinking.

30:33

[00 30:26.532 – 00:30:31.732] They, they were messing around, and the neighbors were complaining, and the church asked them to leave.

30:39

[00 30:31.732 – 00:30:37.162] Oh, we had a problem with them doing something in the, in the- Before, before we...

30:44

[00 30:37.162 – 00:30:38.112] Yeah, they d- were asked.

30:46

[00 30:38.112 – 00:30:39.212] They, the, the church threw them out.

30:48

[00 30:39.212 – 00:30:39.352] Yeah.

30:49

[00 30:39.352 – 00:30:40.592] They threw them out, yeah.

30:51

[00 30:40.592 – 00:30:50.692] So we took a chance and went up and talked to Pastor Schick, and, and a young gal named BJ and her brother were showing

30:59

[00 30:50.692 – 00:30:53.532] up at the meeting, a, a cute little ha- little gal.

31:02

[00 30:53.532 – 00:31:00.492] And she, "You know, we gotta get these guys a meeting." So we went up and talked to the pastor, and he says, "Here's the, here's the, here's the lowdown.

31:12

[00 31:00.492 – 00:31:03.012] Any, any messing around, they're out of here.

31:15

[00 31:03.012 – 00:31:08.032] We don't want no trouble in the neighborhood, okay?" I said, "Okay." We talked to BJ.

31:20

[00 31:08.032 – 00:31:09.932] She said, "You gotta do AA and AA only.

31:23

[00 31:09.932 – 00:31:12.852] If you come here, you gotta be serious about it.

31:26

[00 31:12.852 – 00:31:16.112] We're gonna carry the message.

31:28

[00 31:16.112 – 00:31:21.132] We're not gonna make a mess out of Alcoholics Anonymous in, in, in front of all the neighbors in this neighborhood.

31:35

[00 31:21.132 – 00:31:25.251] We're not gonna do that." And we did.

31:38

[00 31:25.251 – 00:31:35.412] We started it, uh, uh, January 11th, 1985, my 10th anniversary, and it happened to be an accident.

31:43

[00 31:35.412 – 00:31:36.532] It happened to turn out that way.

31:46

[00 31:36.532 – 00:31:46.532] That was a Friday night, and there were eight of us, six or eight of us there, John and myself and the young kids, and we

31:54

[00 31:46.532 – 00:31:47.252] signed the book.

31:55

[00 31:47.252 – 00:31:55.172] And I think combined, uh, gosh, I think John and I were older than all the other kids put together.

32:02

[00 31:55.172 – 00:31:58.672] We have no idea, and we said, "Okay, you gotta be straight.

32:06

[00 31:58.672 – 00:32:02.272] This is Alcoholics Anonymous, not any, this is not Goofball Anonymous.

32:10

[00 32:02.272 – 00:32:04.032] Alcoholics Anonymous now.

32:11

[00 32:04.032 – 00:32:05.462] You gotta be serious about this.

32:13

[00 32:05.462 – 00:32:09.542] People's lives depend on it." We're g- we got your coffee.

32:17

[00 32:09.542 – 00:32:14.252] The, the, uh, CPC lend them 50 buck- they gave us 50 bucks for a coffee pot.

32:22

[00 32:14.252 – 00:32:16.191] Uh, St.

32:22

[00 32:16.191 – 00:32:23.552] Tim's gave us 50 bucks for books and stuff like that to get us started to buy materials, and, and I said, "Hey, after a year, you're gonna have to pay it all back.

32:33

[00 32:23.552 – 00:32:31.751] If you're serious about it, you sh- you, you take care of your finances, you're gonna have to pay it back." And by God, they did.

32:41

[00 32:31.751 – 00:32:32.732] Yeah.

32:42

[00 32:32.732 – 00:32:37.092] After a year, he said, "George, you and John are welcome to come anytime you want.

32:47

[00 32:37.092 – 00:32:40.412] I think we can handle it." And they did.

32:50

[00 32:40.412 – 00:32:41.532] They did a hell of a job.

32:53

[00 32:41.532 – 00:32:42.972] They did a wonderful job.

32:55

[00 32:42.972 – 00:32:45.292] My hats are off to them.

32:57

[00 32:45.292 – 00:32:46.252] A lot of them are still alive.

32:59

[00 32:46.252 – 00:32:47.452] A lot of them are- Yeah ...

33:01

[00 32:47.452 – 00:32:48.612] are retiring now too.

33:03

[00 32:48.612 – 00:32:49.392] They're retired.

33:04

[00 32:49.392 – 00:32:50.092] Yeah.

33:04

[00 32:50.092 – 00:32:53.552] We've got a lot of, we have a couple folks in the meeting tonight, I know.

33:10

[00 32:53.552 – 00:32:56.472] I see my friend Paul up there in, in my corner.

33:13

[00 32:56.472 – 00:32:56.982] Yeah.

33:14

[00 32:56.982 – 00:33:03.432] And, um, yeah, a lot of the young folks that got sober there, and, and that was a really strong group there.

33:21

[00 33:03.432 – 00:33:12.032] So, um, what was, did, how did you feel about God when you first came to Alcoholics Anonymous?

33:27

[00 33:12.032 – 00:33:14.952] What was your, did you have a belief in a higher power?

33:31

[00 33:14.952 – 00:33:17.482] Were you a, did you have a spiritual li-

33:34

[00 33:17.756 – 00:33:19.176] for a religious life.

33:36

[00 33:19.176 – 00:33:24.256] What was, um, did you have any problem with the, the God side of stuff?

33:40

[00 33:24.256 – 00:33:27.376] I was pissed off at God for making me a drunk.

33:44

[00 33:27.376 – 00:33:28.426] Okay.

33:45

[00 33:28.426 – 00:33:29.196] That's what I was.

33:46

[00 33:29.196 – 00:33:36.116] I, I, I used to sit down every night and drink myself to sleep, and say, "God, why are you making me a drunk?" I knew what I was.

33:56

[00 33:36.116 – 00:33:38.536] I was embarrassed by what I was.

33:58

[00 33:38.536 – 00:33:39.736] I didn't wanna be a drunk.

34:00

[00 33:39.736 – 00:33:43.876] And on the way to St.

34:02

[00 33:43.876 – 00:33:46.426] Tim's, I looked out the back of that Volkswagen and I fired him.

34:07

[00 33:46.426 – 00:33:51.546] Said, "If there's a God in heaven, you would never send a nice guy like me to a, to a AA meeting." I fired him.

34:15

[00 33:51.546 – 00:33:56.416] I said, "I don't need you." Well, that's it, you know, stupidity isn't limited to drinking.

34:20

[00 33:56.416 – 00:34:00.236] I said, I said, you can make dumb, dumb decisions.

34:23

[00 34:00.236 – 00:34:02.856] I, I sort of, uh, changed my mind.

34:26

[00 34:02.856 – 00:34:05.976] And I'm glad I did.

34:28

[00 34:05.976 – 00:34:09.595] It wasn't God's fault I became a drunk, it was my own.

34:32

[00 34:09.595 – 00:34:12.376] I poured every drink down me.

34:34

[00 34:12.376 – 00:34:16.576] He never laid me down on the sidewalk and said, "Here, George, I'll help you get it down." He never said, said that once.

34:42

[00 34:16.576 – 00:34:22.236] So today, I, I go to bed with Him and I wake up with Him.

34:47

[00 34:22.236 – 00:34:29.426] So do you have a s- a spiritual program that you follow, or some kind of a routine- I do, yeah ...

34:53

[00 34:29.426 – 00:34:31.216] that you pray when you get up in the morning?

34:57

[00 34:31.216 – 00:34:31.306] I do.

34:58

[00 34:31.306 – 00:34:33.036] Could you talk a- about that a little bit?

35:01

[00 34:33.036 – 00:34:33.796] Yeah.

35:01

[00 34:33.796 – 00:34:35.596] I get up in the morning, I say, "Good morning, Father.

35:05

[00 34:35.596 – 00:34:36.336] Good morning, God.

35:06

[00 34:36.336 – 00:34:37.176] Good morning, HP.

35:08

[00 34:37.176 – 00:34:45.316] Good morning, Jesus Christ." And if anybody offended by, by me saying Jesus, I didn't know which one to pick, so I figured they're all...

35:16

[00 34:45.316 – 00:34:50.356] If I use them all, I say, "You're all, you're all the same, I believe, and I need anything I can get.

35:23

[00 34:50.356 – 00:34:54.196] I'm not gonna shortchange myself." Says, "Please help me not to drink today, and be of service to you.

35:29

[00 34:54.196 – 00:35:00.656] Please protect my family and friends." And I get on with my, my regular routine.

35:34

[00 35:00.656 – 00:35:03.116] I, I, I do all the prayers in the, in, in, in our literature.

35:38

[00 35:03.116 – 00:35:05.156] I do the, uh, Lord's Prayer.

35:41

[00 35:05.156 – 00:35:06.536] I do the, uh, Serenity Prayer.

35:43

[00 35:06.536 – 00:35:08.436] I do the Third Step Prayer.

35:45

[00 35:08.436 – 00:35:15.836] I do the 11 Step Prayer from the, from the 12 by 12, uh, uh, Prayer to Saint Francis.

35:50

[00 35:15.836 – 00:35:19.696] I do them all every morning when I get up.

35:54

[00 35:19.696 – 00:35:22.476] And I, then I have my own prayer.

35:56

[00 35:22.476 – 00:35:25.236] I, I ask God to, uh...

35:58

[00 35:25.236 – 00:35:29.676] At the end, I ask God to correct me and help me stay sober, and I, I use a, I do a Hail Mary.

36:06

[00 35:29.676 – 00:35:30.616] I flirt with her.

36:08

[00 35:30.616 – 00:35:32.156] I say, "Mary," I say, "you gotta help me.

36:11

[00 35:32.156 – 00:35:35.756] I can't give all the work to the men, you gotta help me out.

36:15

[00 35:35.756 – 00:35:42.196] Please help me not to drink, and, and I would appreciate it." And I do.

36:20

[00 35:42.196 – 00:35:44.336] I say a couple Hail Marys, and I end, and I end my...

36:25

[00 35:44.336 – 00:35:45.456] I get up and I go to work.

36:27

[00 35:45.456 – 00:35:50.476] And how many meetings do you get to now?

36:31

[00 35:50.476 – 00:35:51.576] I mean, you're sober- Oh, a ton ...

36:33

[00 35:51.576 – 00:35:52.395] 50 years.

36:34

[00 35:52.395 – 00:35:53.335] I go to a ton.

36:35

[00 35:53.335 – 00:35:58.115] The best thing that happened to me was, was, was, was, was the Covish.

36:40

[00 35:58.115 – 00:36:03.556] I'm active, I'm very active in, in El Sobrante.

36:43

[00 36:03.556 – 00:36:04.895] I'm very active in Danville.

36:45

[00 36:04.895 – 00:36:08.476] Uh, I go to, I go...

36:47

[00 36:08.476 – 00:36:11.346] El Sobrante got three meetings a day.

36:50

[00 36:11.346 – 00:36:11.416] Mm-hmm.

36:50

[00 36:11.416 – 00:36:13.186] I secretary one of them on Thursday.

36:53

[00 36:13.186 – 00:36:16.756] I've secretary one before on Thursday.

36:55

[00 36:16.756 – 00:36:18.226] I secretary one on Monday.

36:57

[00 36:18.226 – 00:36:25.836] Um, I, uh, during, uh, you know, I, I, I secretary meetings at the hut.

37:02

[00 36:25.836 – 00:36:27.776] I, I went to that for a long time.

37:05

[00 36:27.776 – 00:36:31.796] I, I have a difficult, I have a vision problem.

37:08

[00 36:31.796 – 00:36:33.096] I have macular degeneration.

37:10

[00 36:33.096 – 00:36:35.276] I lost the vision in my right eye many years ago.

37:13

[00 36:35.276 – 00:36:42.436] Even with the, with, uh, uh, glasses, I have a difficult time reading the print.

37:18

[00 36:42.436 – 00:36:43.516] Mm-hmm.

37:19

[00 36:43.516 – 00:36:53.056] But I got a large visual aid machine here that blows it up, but w- but, you know, when you gotta transpose things from one part to another, it's hard.

37:28

[00 36:53.056 – 00:36:55.496] You can't do two things on that platform at the same time.

37:32

[00 36:55.496 – 00:36:59.696] But it's, but you know, the darn thing is, I keep trying.

37:36

[00 36:59.696 – 00:37:00.736] I never quit.

37:38

[00 37:00.736 – 00:37:05.136] I think that's the secret to staying sober, is not quitting.

37:41

[00 37:05.136 – 00:37:10.016] Be determined that no matter what, you don't drink.

37:44

[00 37:10.016 – 00:37:11.645] That's the bottom line.

37:46

[00 37:11.645 – 00:37:17.296] And if the job is hard, roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and get the job done.

37:52

[00 37:17.296 – 00:37:19.376] You don't have to do it perfectly, but just do it.

37:56

[00 37:19.376 – 00:37:22.596] And that's what I learned to do.

37:58

[00 37:22.596 – 00:37:24.396] Uh, they told me I was gonna go blind.

38:01

[00 37:24.396 – 00:37:27.716] I, uh, surprised me, I haven't.

38:04

[00 37:27.716 – 00:37:31.176] Okay.

38:04

[00 37:31.176 – 00:37:41.216] So, um, I know that we brought the NCCAA Conference to San Ramon, and you were, um, you were supportive in that, did some

38:12

[00 37:41.216 – 00:37:41.626] service- Yeah ...

38:13

[00 37:41.626 – 00:37:42.236] work in that.

38:14

[00 37:42.236 – 00:37:46.966] Um, have you been active in, have you gone to a lot of AA conferences?

38:19

[00 37:46.966 – 00:37:48.856] Have you gone to any of the internationals?

38:22

[00 37:48.856 – 00:37:49.736] No.

38:22

[00 37:49.736 – 00:37:50.736] Not to one.

38:24

[00 37:50.736 – 00:37:52.396] I have never been to an international conference.

38:26

[00 37:52.396 – 00:37:57.136] I almost went to one in, with- in New Orleans, but I just didn't have the funds to do it.

38:33

[00 37:57.136 – 00:38:04.396] That was right after I got divorced, and let me tell you, I was living on $125 a month after I paid child support.

38:40

[00 38:04.396 – 00:38:09.356] And John told me, "You don't do anything else, you send your child support, period.

38:45

[00 38:09.356 – 00:38:12.876] You don't miss a god dang payment." And I did not miss one.

38:49

[00 38:12.876 – 00:38:16.396] That was my responsibility.

38:51

[00 38:16.396 – 00:38:18.376] And I couldn't afford it.

38:53

[00 38:18.376 – 00:38:19.576] Okay.

38:53

[00 38:19.576 – 00:38:21.116] Okay.

38:54

[00 38:21.116 – 00:38:24.856] So what are some of the...

38:56

[00 38:24.856 – 00:38:34.876] If, as you look back over your sobriety, um, what are some of the, the wonderful memories that you have of, that

39:03

[00 38:34.876 – 00:38:37.496] you know you would have, you could have missed all this?

39:07

[00 38:37.496 – 00:38:37.926] You know- Oh, God ...

39:09

[00 38:37.926 – 00:38:39.096] those kinds of things.

39:10

[00 38:39.096 – 00:38:40.756] Well, there's tons of them.

39:12

[00 38:40.756 – 00:38:42.516] The, the AA poker tournaments.

39:14

[00 38:42.516 – 00:38:43.636] You see a bunch of guys.

39:16

[00 38:43.636 – 00:38:48.256] I mean, you get 50 guys in a room, some from Fortune 500 companies.

39:20

[00 38:48.256 – 00:38:50.356] One was a vice president of an airlines.

39:23

[00 38:50.356 – 00:38:55.396] We're all putting $100 in the pot and playing poker all night long for a couple bucks.

39:28

[00 38:55.396 – 00:38:57.786] To get a trophy.

39:30

[00 38:57.786 – 00:38:59.706] That was the thing.

39:31

[00 38:59.706 – 00:39:01.276] That trophy was worth anything else.

39:33

[00 39:01.276 – 00:39:02.796] And we do that every year.

39:35

[00 39:02.796 – 00:39:07.836] Jack Loomis and, and, and a bunch of guys will get it together and we have a poker tournament every year.

39:42

[00 39:07.836 – 00:39:08.996] I love doing that.

39:44

[00 39:08.996 – 00:39:12.005] I love going to the retreats up at, up at St.

39:47

[00 39:12.005 – 00:39:14.876] Francis Retreat House in, in, in Hollister.

39:50

[00 39:14.876 – 00:39:16.005] A- and, and, uh...

39:51

[00 39:16.005 – 00:39:19.176] No, we used to have golf tournaments here.

39:54

[00 39:19.176 – 00:39:20.366] We go, a bunch of us going to...

39:57

[00 39:20.366 – 00:39:24.596] The first time I went to a golf tournament, I said, "God, these guys are Danville playing for big bucks.

40:03

[00 39:24.596 – 00:39:31.176] Got a lot of money." They paid, it cost them, like, 30 or $40 a piece to play a round of golf.

40:10

[00 39:31.176 – 00:39:41.556] At the end of the tournament, at the end of the day of golf, between John, Jack Loomis, and Al Z, I

40:17

[00 39:41.556 – 00:39:44.746] think it was $4 was passed between them.

40:19

[00 39:44.746 – 00:39:49.206] Paid $30 a piece and win four bucks, but, oh, they couldn't wait to get that four bucks.

40:25

[00 39:49.206 – 00:39:52.276] They were, they were, they were good people.

40:28

[00 39:52.276 – 00:39:53.516] You can have fun in sobriety.

40:30

[00 39:53.516 – 00:39:54.916] That, they showed me how to do that.

40:33

[00 39:54.916 – 00:39:56.956] So you mentioned a retreat

40:35

[00 39:57.101 – 00:39:58.801] So when did you go to your first retreat?

40:38

[00 39:58.801 – 00:39:59.561] First year.

40:39

[00 39:59.561 – 00:40:01.201] First year?

40:39

[00 40:01.201 – 00:40:01.921] Yeah.

40:40

[00 40:01.921 – 00:40:04.261] They took me, "You're going." I went.

40:43

[00 40:04.261 – 00:40:08.061] And what was, what was the retreat like?

40:45

[00 40:08.061 – 00:40:11.861] It was, it was, it was something I didn't expect.

40:49

[00 40:11.861 – 00:40:12.861] I was raised Catholic.

40:50

[00 40:12.861 – 00:40:14.481] It's been done by a, a brother.

40:53

[00 40:14.481 – 00:40:16.601] I can't remember.

40:54

[00 40:16.601 – 00:40:18.641] I, I know it wasn't, wasn't Father Lynch.

40:57

[00 40:18.641 – 00:40:23.361] There, there was a brother in before him, and I can't remember his name.

41:01

[00 40:23.361 – 00:40:24.671] He went, he was there one time.

41:04

[00 40:24.671 – 00:40:29.401] And there were guys from...

41:06

[00 40:29.401 – 00:40:35.501] There was a lot of guys from, um, uh, Gilroy, Manteca, all over the Bay Area were coming.

41:12

[00 40:35.501 – 00:40:39.511] There was about, uh, about 100.

41:13

[00 40:39.511 – 00:40:43.941] Then the next year they had to get two weekends, and the ne- following year they got three weekends.

41:20

[00 40:43.941 – 00:40:47.001] You're getting, getting 300, 400 people going there to that retreat.

41:23

[00 40:47.001 – 00:40:51.001] And it was hard to get enough retreat masters for it, but it was fabulous.

41:28

[00 40:51.001 – 00:40:55.981] We'd go down a two days earlier, pay for extra room, and we'd go out and play golf.

41:33

[00 40:55.981 – 00:41:00.121] Pay the, pay the, pay the, uh, the golf, uh, courses in, in Monterey Bay.

41:38

[00 41:00.121 – 00:41:01.740] We had a wonderful time.

41:40

[00 41:01.740 – 00:41:05.481] Go out to go for dinner downtown and, and...

41:43

[00 41:05.481 – 00:41:08.081] Well, well, not lie, we exaggerate.

41:45

[00 41:08.081 – 00:41:10.051] Okay.

41:46

[00 41:10.051 – 00:41:11.021] It was a fantastic time.

41:48

[00 41:11.021 – 00:41:21.021] So if there was something that you could have told yourself i- from where

41:53

[00 41:21.021 – 00:41:31.361] you are now, from the journey that you've been on, if there was something that you could tell yourself as a newcomer, what would you say to,

42:01

[00 41:31.361 – 00:41:32.781] to George A.

42:02

[00 41:32.781 – 00:41:37.861] as he's getting ready to walk into his first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous?

42:07

[00 41:37.861 – 00:41:48.061] What they told me, "Don't give up before the miracle happens." That's exactly what they told me, "Don't give up before the miracle

42:14

[00 41:48.061 – 00:41:50.401] happens." It was hard.

42:16

[00 41:50.401 – 00:41:52.301] That first 90 days was, was a nightmare.

42:18

[00 41:52.301 – 00:41:55.241] I didn't think I was gonna stop drinking.

42:21

[00 41:55.241 – 00:41:56.101] I didn't, really didn't.

42:22

[00 41:56.101 – 00:42:00.701] I, I worked a district where I was in and out of liquor stores all day long.

42:28

[00 42:00.701 – 00:42:02.421] Oh, that's right.

42:29

[00 42:02.421 – 00:42:03.241] Yeah, your job.

42:30

[00 42:03.241 – 00:42:04.541] I was selling newspapers, yeah.

42:32

[00 42:04.541 – 00:42:09.401] I'd run into the El Sereno Fellowship up those stairs.

42:36

[00 42:09.401 – 00:42:10.241] Oh, God.

42:37

[00 42:10.241 – 00:42:15.141] Even though the meetings weren't g- g- at, at that time, I'd just sit in that room for a minute.

42:43

[00 42:15.141 – 00:42:25.141] I called the gal down at the, uh, the original, uh, uh, uh, fellowship at,

42:48

[00 42:25.141 – 00:42:25.581] at Oakland.

42:49

[00 42:25.581 – 00:42:27.441] It was on Apgar, 40th and Apgar.

42:51

[00 42:27.441 – 00:42:32.791] I'd park my truck outside and she said, "Sit here and I'll be back in a half hour." I said, "What am I gonna do?

42:59

[00 42:32.791 – 00:42:43.961] I wanna drink." "Sit here and I'll be back in a half hour." She get back in a half hour, "So how do you feel?" I said, "Don't wanna drink." She said, "Go back to work." Okay.

43:11

[00 42:43.961 – 00:42:45.081] It takes what it takes.

43:13

[00 42:45.081 – 00:42:46.601] You, it, it, just stay drinking.

43:15

[00 42:46.601 – 00:42:48.341] We did the same thing f- to get a bottle.

43:18

[00 42:48.341 – 00:42:49.601] It took what it take to get a bottle.

43:22

[00 42:49.601 – 00:42:50.941] We, we did that, too.

43:23

[00 42:50.941 – 00:43:01.341] So is there anything that you, that you w- would like to talk about, about your story or about the

43:30

[00 43:01.341 – 00:43:05.721] experience that you've had in Alcoholics Anonymous that I didn't bring up in a question?

43:35

[00 43:05.721 – 00:43:15.731] Something, something that was just really amazing that happened to you, or, um, or some experience that you've had in

43:41

[00 43:15.731 – 00:43:18.021] sobriety that you'd like to share with the group?

43:44

[00 43:18.021 – 00:43:22.501] Well, yeah, I, I always share that I, that I, I learned to dance.

43:49

[00 43:22.501 – 00:43:26.741] I learned to do ballroom dancing.

43:51

[00 43:26.741 – 00:43:33.781] I moved to a community across Rossmoor, and I ended up working on cruise ships as a dance host.

43:57

[00 43:33.781 – 00:43:37.781] I worked in bars, some of the most high-class bars you've ever seen in your life.

44:03

[00 43:37.781 – 00:43:42.641] I had an unlimited expense account.

44:05

[00 43:42.641 – 00:43:45.761] I entertained a table every night.

44:07

[00 43:45.761 – 00:43:46.801] I bought the wine.

44:08

[00 43:46.801 – 00:43:47.741] I signed for it.

44:10

[00 43:47.741 – 00:43:49.281] Had a s- I just, an account.

44:12

[00 43:49.281 – 00:43:52.121] I had celebrities at my table.

44:15

[00 43:52.121 – 00:43:53.341] I had priests at my table.

44:17

[00 43:53.341 – 00:43:56.541] I met extremely wealthy people at my table.

44:19

[00 43:56.541 – 00:44:06.650] But you know, I had one lady ask me one time, she, she was very wealthy from New York, and she said, "You don't drink." I said,

44:28

[00 44:06.650 – 00:44:09.321] "No, I don't." She couldn't understand it.

44:31

[00 44:09.321 – 00:44:11.701] I didn't give her an explanation.

44:33

[00 44:11.701 – 00:44:13.541] She just couldn't understand why I didn't drink.

44:35

[00 44:13.541 – 00:44:15.541] And I, I waited.

44:37

[00 44:15.541 – 00:44:25.561] Next night she came back, she says, "You don't drink, huh?" I says, "No, I don't drink." "Did you ever drink?" "You never ask me that." "Yeah, I

44:46

[00 44:25.561 – 00:44:28.461] drank." She said, "What happened?" "I got in a lot of trouble." She never said a word about it.

44:52

[00 44:28.461 – 00:44:30.481] That was the end of it.

44:54

[00 44:30.481 – 00:44:34.861] You know, I, I, I don't have to tell people I don't drink anymore.

44:59

[00 44:34.861 – 00:44:37.141] I just says, "I just don't drink." Mm-hmm.

45:02

[00 44:37.141 – 00:44:39.241] And, and I met...

45:03

[00 44:39.241 – 00:44:41.441] I had a chance to meet people beyond your wildest dreams.

45:07

[00 44:41.441 – 00:44:41.941] I did.

45:08

[00 44:41.941 – 00:44:44.701] I got to see places y- I would never seen.

45:11

[00 44:44.701 – 00:44:50.661] Um, I did it for f- uh, I started in 2003.

45:15

[00 44:50.661 – 00:44:52.161] I finished my last cruise.

45:16

[00 44:52.161 – 00:44:59.421] I came back from, um, from Alaska to the Bay Area, and, uh, after leaving Russia.

45:22

[00 44:59.421 – 00:45:03.841] And, uh, yeah, I, I, I, I, I, I, I've, I've had a full life.

45:27

[00 45:03.841 – 00:45:07.361] I, I tell you, you know, I'm not afraid of anything except for stupidity.

45:31

[00 45:07.361 – 00:45:08.521] I get myself in trouble.

45:33

[00 45:08.521 – 00:45:14.301] If I got a good idea, uh, first thing I gotta do is call my sponsor.

45:38

[00 45:14.301 – 00:45:14.841] I use them.

45:40

[00 45:14.841 – 00:45:16.081] I saw him last night.

45:41

[00 45:16.081 – 00:45:18.661] I go...

45:42

[00 45:18.661 – 00:45:22.821] To go this journey alone without that cl- that, that close confidant is silly.

45:47

[00 45:22.821 – 00:45:24.281] Yep.

45:48

[00 45:24.281 – 00:45:26.221] It's absolutely silly.

45:49

[00 45:26.221 – 00:45:28.601] It's, it's just, it's not a good idea.

45:52

[00 45:28.601 – 00:45:41.251] So I, I, I, I just, I, I, I had one guy I asked me in between Frank and, uh, and

45:58

[00 45:41.251 – 00:45:41.881] Jack Burton.

45:59

[00 45:41.881 – 00:45:50.621] I asked a guy to, if he'd sponsor me, and he says, "Nah, you've been sober long enough to sponsor yourself." And I said, "Oh, boy, that doesn't sound good." I tried it for a, for a month.

46:11

[00 45:50.621 – 00:45:51.901] I just didn't feel good about it.

46:14

[00 45:51.901 – 00:45:53.781] I found Frank at the Hut meeting.

46:16

[00 45:53.781 – 00:45:58.541] I says, "Frank, I need to talk to you." And he- Yeah ...

46:20

[00 45:58.541 – 00:45:59.341] a big fit for me.

46:22

[00 45:59.341 – 00:46:00.081] He's been beautiful.

46:23

[00 46:00.081 – 00:46:01.161] Yeah.

46:24

[00 46:01.161 – 00:46:07.021] Yeah, my sponsor passed away just a year ago now, and I'd had her for almost 30 years.

46:29

[00 46:07.021 – 00:46:07.191] Yeah.

46:30

[00 46:07.191 – 00:46:17.301] And, um, I was on the phone with a, a couple of women that I had been talking to, uh, because we knew Peg's health was declining, and I had a sponsor that

46:41

[00 46:17.301 – 00:46:17.961] afternoon.

46:41

[00 46:17.961 – 00:46:18.781] Yeah.

46:42

[00 46:18.781 – 00:46:19.581] So, yeah.

46:43

[00 46:19.581 – 00:46:20.721] When John and Bill died.

46:45

[00 46:20.721 – 00:46:24.381] Bill, uh, I had 72, 90, uh, 90.

46:46

[00 46:24.381 – 00:46:29.301] 2002, John died from a heart, from a heart surgery.

46:50

[00 46:29.301 – 00:46:32.881] In 2004, Bill died.

46:51

[00 46:32.881 – 00:46:33.331] Mm-hmm.

46:51

[00 46:33.331 – 00:46:35.801] Bill shot him- put a gun to his mouth and, and killed himself

46:56

[00 46:37.226 – 00:46:38.026] He had a stroke.

46:57

[00 46:38.026 – 00:46:39.766] He didn't like what happened to himself.

47:00

[00 46:39.766 – 00:46:46.786] He put a gun in his mouth, pulled the trigger, and the, uh, sheriff's department pa- pa- uh, pastor called me up and said, "Mr.

47:08

[00 46:46.786 – 00:46:49.466] Allen, your friend Bill Withers took his life today.

47:11

[00 46:49.466 – 00:46:56.846] Can we help you?" I said, "No, yeah, I think I'm gonna be all right." I called him every name in the book.

47:18

[00 46:56.846 – 00:47:01.386] Oh, I called him, I called him some beautiful ones, and then I finally got smart.

47:23

[00 47:01.386 – 00:47:02.666] You know, I have no right to judge him.

47:26

[00 47:02.666 – 00:47:03.426] He saved my life.

47:28

[00 47:03.426 – 00:47:09.965] He has a right to live his life the way he wanted to, and he introduced me to a way that, that I should've been living all the time.

47:37

[00 47:09.965 – 00:47:19.706] When you were d- when you were working on the cruise ships, were you able to get to any of the, uh, meetings on board?

47:45

[00 47:19.706 – 00:47:19.736] Oh, yeah.

47:46

[00 47:19.736 – 00:47:21.006] Any of the AA meetings?

47:48

[00 47:21.006 – 00:47:21.706] Oh, yeah.

47:49

[00 47:21.706 – 00:47:26.266] I s- the ladies had a special cake ma- made for my, uh, 30th b- AA birthday.

47:55

[00 47:26.266 – 00:47:29.646] And I w- sailed, sails, uh, sailed through the Panama Canal at night.

47:59

[00 47:29.646 – 00:47:30.326] It was gorgeous.

48:00

[00 47:30.326 – 00:47:31.606] Oh, that's wonderful.

48:01

[00 47:31.606 – 00:47:32.306] Ship bake a cake.

48:03

[00 47:32.306 – 00:47:34.106] They, uh, there were several people there, yeah.

48:06

[00 47:34.106 – 00:47:35.986] That's wonderful.

48:07

[00 47:35.986 – 00:47:37.246] I went to meetings all the time.

48:09

[00 47:37.246 – 00:47:40.486] Uh, I did 12 step work on a ship several times too.

48:13

[00 47:40.486 – 00:47:42.306] Oh, wow.

48:14

[00 47:42.306 – 00:47:42.766] I did.

48:15

[00 47:42.766 – 00:47:45.366] Tell, th- uh, share, share one of those stories.

48:18

[00 47:45.366 – 00:47:47.786] Share a story about doing 12 step on a ship.

48:21

[00 47:47.786 – 00:47:53.146] I went to a meeting, and this young man was 26 years old.

48:25

[00 47:53.146 – 00:47:54.526] He was from San Francisco.

48:27

[00 47:54.526 – 00:48:01.716] He's been in AA about a month or so, and his dad's taken him on a cruise to congratulate him.

48:33

[00 48:01.716 – 00:48:08.226] His dad's taken him on a cruise 'cause he wants to get drunk, and I guess he wanted a companion, but this kid didn't wanna drink.

48:41

[00 48:08.226 – 00:48:16.426] And I says, "Well, I'll tell you what we're gonna do." I says, "You know I work in the lounge." He says, "Yeah." "You come in the lounge, you sit with me, and I'll buy you Cokes all night.

48:54

[00 48:16.426 – 00:48:24.466] You just don't drink, and here's my room number." He show up every night.

48:58

[00 48:24.466 – 00:48:26.526] He's, "You wanna dance?" Some of the l- that scared the hell out of him.

49:03

[00 48:26.526 – 00:48:33.066] "Don't we wanna dance?" "You just sit here and I'll, and I'll..." And I, every night he, he clo- we closed the b- closed the lounge.

49:12

[00 48:33.066 – 00:48:36.786] He didn't drink either.

49:13

[00 48:36.786 – 00:48:38.526] That's great.

49:14

[00 48:38.526 – 00:48:40.206] But his father did.

49:16

[00 48:40.206 – 00:48:40.746] Oh, boy.

49:16

[00 48:40.746 – 00:48:41.906] Yeah.

49:17

[00 48:41.906 – 00:48:43.026] Yeah.

49:18

[00 48:43.026 – 00:48:44.056] But he was serious.

49:19

[00 48:44.056 – 00:48:44.846] You know, he didn't wanna drink.

49:21

[00 48:44.846 – 00:48:46.085] Yeah.

49:22

[00 48:46.085 – 00:48:51.386] Well, George, I w- I wanna thank you for being willing to come and do this.

49:27

[00 48:51.386 – 00:48:52.886] We're not done yet, though.

49:29

[00 48:52.886 – 00:49:02.986] We're going to, I'm going to take us off, um, off of spotlight, and we're going to, um, open it up to see if anybody has any questions for you.

49:39

[00 49:02.986 – 00:49:07.406] And, um, and we'll see.

49:41

[00 49:07.406 – 00:49:17.566] So, um, if anybody has any questions for George, I'm going to ask you to, uh, raise your digital hand and,

49:47

[00 49:17.566 – 00:49:23.166] um, and you will, uh, we will ask you to turn on your video when you get called on.

49:53

[00 49:23.166 – 00:49:33.166] Um, but I want to, uh, George, you know, for being willing to step in and, and, uh, we're gonna reschedule Victor, but bef- before we get to

50:02

[00 49:33.166 – 00:49:43.326] that point, if, if people want to, uh, let's, uh, let's let people unmute so that they can thank George, and, uh, let me, uh, let me

50:11

[00 49:43.326 – 00:49:44.906] do that.

50:12

[00 49:44.906 – 00:49:54.986] Um, I'm going to allow y'all to unmute yourselves and, um, and you can come in and thank George for his

50:19

[00 49:54.986 – 00:49:55.986] share this evening.

50:20

[00 49:55.986 – 00:49:56.456] Thank you, George.

50:21

[00 49:56.456 – 00:49:58.626] Thank you very much, George.

50:23

[00 49:58.626 – 00:49:59.676] Thank you, George.

50:24

[00 49:59.676 – 00:49:59.676] Thank you, George.

50:26

[00 49:59.676 – 00:49:59.676] Thank you, George.

50:27

[00 49:59.676 – 00:49:59.676] Thank you.

50:28

[00 49:59.676 – 00:49:59.676] Thank you, George.

50:29

[00 49:59.676 – 00:50:00.106] That was wonderful.

50:30

[00 50:00.106 – 00:50:01.206] Thank you, George.

50:31

[00 50:01.206 – 00:50:01.716] Thank you.

50:32

[00 50:01.716 – 00:50:02.906] Good share.

50:33

[00 50:02.906 – 00:50:03.116] George.

50:34

[00 50:03.116 – 00:50:04.446] Thank you, George.

50:35

[00 50:04.446 – 00:50:06.406] Okay.

50:36

[00 50:06.406 – 00:50:16.406] And, um, so let me mute everybody and, um, and I'm gonna ask George

50:40

[00 50:16.406 – 00:50:17.486] to unmute again.

50:42

[00 50:17.486 – 00:50:21.686] And, um, Paul, you've got your hand up.

50:44

[00 50:21.686 – 00:50:22.646] Let's go to you.

50:46

[00 50:22.646 – 00:50:24.386] And do you have a question for George?

50:49

[00 50:24.386 – 00:50:26.346] Yeah.

50:49

[00 50:26.346 – 00:50:27.126] Hey, George.

50:50

[00 50:27.126 – 00:50:28.586] Thank you so much.

50:52

[00 50:28.586 – 00:50:31.006] I've known you a long time.

50:54

[00 50:31.006 – 00:50:31.036] Yeah.

50:54

[00 50:31.036 – 00:50:40.906] One of the things that I love, this may seem quirky, but could you share about some of the nicknames that people had and why they had them of people you've known?

51:05

[00 50:40.906 – 00:50:42.986] I, I think it's, it's hilarious.

51:07

[00 50:42.986 – 00:50:46.496] So I'd like to know some of the nicknames of people you knew, and- Oh, my ...

51:12

[00 50:46.496 – 00:50:47.926] and why did they have those nicknames?

51:15

[00 50:47.926 – 00:50:49.086] I don't know.

51:16

[00 50:49.086 – 00:50:50.606] It does- I didn't deserve them.

51:18

[00 50:50.606 – 00:50:54.046] You know what they are, you rascal.

51:20

[00 50:54.046 – 00:50:56.186] They called me the Lebanese Lover.

51:23

[00 50:56.186 – 00:50:58.265] That was the ni- one of the nicknames they called me.

51:26

[00 50:58.265 – 00:51:02.196] And I've been called worse, but I liked that one.

51:30

[00 51:02.196 – 00:51:04.306] Really.

51:30

[00 51:04.306 – 00:51:08.666] Oh, they- And what, what about some of the other people that you had nicknames for?

51:35

[00 51:08.666 – 00:51:10.786] I know you had a nickname for John Cleary.

51:39

[00 51:10.786 – 00:51:12.646] Yeah, called him the Pope.

51:40

[00 51:12.646 – 00:51:16.846] Paul was a long-haired punk.

51:42

[00 51:16.846 – 00:51:19.066] So was Brian.

51:43

[00 51:19.066 – 00:51:22.886] They were b- Well, Paul had hair in those days, George ...

51:47

[00 51:22.886 – 00:51:26.026] Yeah, well, he, yeah, he wore a bandana with, with, with, with rock and roll pants on.

51:53

[00 51:26.026 – 00:51:28.466] Yeah, they could...

51:54

[00 51:28.466 – 00:51:29.126] We...

51:55

[00 51:29.126 – 00:51:38.246] Everybody had a nickname, and it, and, and for anybody to give me a nickname and th- think that much of me, I really, I really, uh, you know, it was terms of endearment.

52:05

[00 51:38.246 – 00:51:39.066] They loved you.

52:07

[00 51:39.066 – 00:51:41.976] They loved you.

52:08

[00 51:41.976 – 00:51:43.366] They loved to kid around, and you know what?

52:11

[00 51:43.366 – 00:51:45.946] I didn't take it, I didn't get upset about it one, one bit.

52:15

[00 51:45.946 – 00:51:48.946] I didn't mind getting teased or joked with.

52:18

[00 51:48.946 – 00:51:50.366] I, I, I thought it was a lot of fun.

52:21

[00 51:50.366 – 00:51:52.126] We really had a lot of fun teasing each other.

52:25

[00 51:52.126 – 00:51:55.506] Okay.

52:25

[00 51:55.506 – 00:51:58.066] I thought he was gonna ask me about where I can get a good cup of coffee.

52:31

[00 51:58.066 – 00:52:05.166] Mary O., would you like to unmute and ask George a question?

52:35

[00 52:05.166 – 00:52:08.186] Hi, my name's Mary Katherine.

52:37

[00 52:08.186 – 00:52:12.066] I'm an alcoholic, and I just wanna first thank you, George.

52:40

[00 52:12.066 – 00:52:22.226] I came in a little late, so I didn't hear where you were from, but, um, my question is, uh,

52:47

[00 52:22.286 – 00:52:27.826] twofold actually, um, because I did come in late.

52:50

[00 52:27.826 – 00:52:32.706] Uh, when you ca- Okay, I'll start with this.

52:53

[00 52:32.706 – 00:52:41.466] Since you still go to a lot of meetings, um, what do you think of, um, AA now?

52:59

[00 52:41.466 – 00:52:51.326] Um, 'cause, uh, it, it, from what I've heard, I've been around for a while, not as long as you, but it's changed a lot.

53:07

[00 52:51.326 – 00:53:01.586] And the second, um, question is when did you get introduced to the steps in the book?

53:13

[00 53:01.586 – 00:53:08.266] Right after I decided to, to, to, I wanted to quit drinking.

53:17

[00 53:08.266 – 00:53:10.526] On my 90th day I went to St.

53:19

[00 53:10.526 – 00:53:15.976] Timothy's, and I told, I said to John and Bill, I says, "Whatever you're do-

53:24

[00 53:16.111 – 00:53:18.451] Tell me to do, I'll do as long as I never have to drink again.

53:29

[00 53:18.451 – 00:53:27.691] He says, "How long you been sober?" Says, "90 days, you know that." Says, "What step do you think you're on?" I says, "I think I'm on number three or four." And he says, "No, let's let you...

53:41

[00 53:27.691 – 00:53:29.071] How about you start with number one?

53:43

[00 53:29.071 – 00:53:35.911] We'll make it a, make a special case of you." Why are you quitting drinking, they asked me, just like they did in the Big Book.

53:52

[00 53:35.911 – 00:53:38.591] You quitting for, you quitting for your wife?

53:54

[00 53:38.591 – 00:53:38.831] No.

53:55

[00 53:38.831 – 00:53:39.271] Your kids?

53:56

[00 53:39.271 – 00:53:39.531] No.

53:57

[00 53:39.531 – 00:53:40.031] Your job?

53:57

[00 53:40.031 – 00:53:40.431] No.

53:58

[00 53:40.431 – 00:53:41.351] Nope, nope, nope.

53:59

[00 53:41.351 – 00:53:45.621] 'Cause if you do it for anybody else than yourself, you're not gonna stay sober.

54:04

[00 53:45.621 – 00:53:52.331] And that's the day I, that was the day I hung my hat on and, and then I was willing to fight for my sobriety.

54:12

[00 53:52.331 – 00:53:53.411] It wasn't gonna be easy.

54:14

[00 53:53.411 – 00:53:54.041] It was simple.

54:15

[00 53:54.041 – 00:53:57.371] But I had a lot of days I wanted to drink, but I...

54:20

[00 53:57.371 – 00:53:59.851] Miss gave me a little coin and I used to squeeze the hell out of that coin.

54:25

[00 53:59.851 – 00:54:04.211] I thought it was gonna melt in my hand, but, you know, I, I just wanted...

54:30

[00 54:04.211 – 00:54:06.951] On my 90th day is when I wanted to stay more than anything else.

54:35

[00 54:06.951 – 00:54:17.051] And the other question that Mary asked was, do you think that AA has changed, and what do you think of the changes?

54:42

[00 54:17.051 – 00:54:20.271] Well, I'm an old dinosaur.

54:44

[00 54:20.271 – 00:54:23.131] Um, it has changed in a lot of ways.

54:47

[00 54:23.131 – 00:54:23.951] It's gotten big.

54:49

[00 54:23.951 – 00:54:25.551] Bigger than I ever expected.

54:50

[00 54:25.551 – 00:54:30.391] I, I remember, uh, when we hit a million people.

54:54

[00 54:30.391 – 00:54:32.711] We were at, we were at St.

54:56

[00 54:32.711 – 00:54:43.491] Timothy's, somebody came in and said, "You know AA, the, the central office or some damn thing, uh, NA, uh, GSO said something that we got a million people in AA now." That was in 1976,

55:07

[00 54:43.491 – 00:54:45.451] '77, '78, somewhere around there.

55:09

[00 54:45.451 – 00:54:46.671] They got a million people.

55:11

[00 54:46.671 – 00:54:47.891] And it's growing.

55:12

[00 54:47.891 – 00:54:53.011] I mean, um, we- we're what, what, 180 countries now?

55:15

[00 54:53.011 – 00:54:56.791] We're, we're, uh, I go to meetings in Mexico when I go down fishing.

55:20

[00 54:56.791 – 00:55:00.011] I've been to meetings in, in, in Canada.

55:23

[00 55:00.011 – 00:55:01.351] I've been in, you name it, we're...

55:25

[00 55:01.351 – 00:55:04.011] I tried to, I even tried to go to a meeting in Singapore.

55:30

[00 55:04.011 – 00:55:13.171] And I couldn't get, I got to the place, but somebody forgot to change the meeting with the next morning.

55:36

[00 55:13.171 – 00:55:16.171] Had a hell of a time getting back to the hotel I was at.

55:41

[00 55:16.171 – 00:55:19.951] Oh, you have to stand out in the middle of the street and flag a cab down to get, get one in Singapore.

55:48

[00 55:19.951 – 00:55:21.691] But I, I tried.

55:50

[00 55:21.691 – 00:55:24.411] Okay.

55:50

[00 55:24.411 – 00:55:26.551] Okay.

55:51

[00 55:26.551 – 00:55:28.911] Let's go to Gary N.

55:53

[00 55:28.911 – 00:55:31.971] Gary, do you wanna unmute and come in and ask George a question?

55:57

[00 55:31.971 – 00:55:32.411] Sure.

55:58

[00 55:32.411 – 00:55:33.391] Be glad to.

55:59

[00 55:33.391 – 00:55:44.091] Uh, George, uh, besides the Big Book, could you give me, uh, uh, the names of what books you might have used to help, uh, you with spirituality

56:08

[00 55:44.091 – 00:55:45.691] besides the Big Book?

56:09

[00 55:45.691 – 00:55:50.431] What, the 12 and 12, or the 24-Hour Day book, or Little Red Book or whatever?

56:14

[00 55:50.431 – 00:55:58.611] Well, I, since, since I been in AA, I got, was given, as Bill sees it, it was called A Way Out back then.

56:22

[00 55:58.611 – 00:56:03.051] I've got the or- uh, he gave it to me on my first birthday as a gift.

56:27

[00 56:03.051 – 00:56:05.531] I've used a 24-Hour book.

56:29

[00 56:05.531 – 00:56:07.771] We used to sell them at, at, at the central office.

56:33

[00 56:07.771 – 00:56:10.211] I still read the 24-Hour-A-Day book.

56:35

[00 56:10.211 – 00:56:11.211] It's by Hazelton.

56:36

[00 56:11.211 – 00:56:14.691] It was written by an alkie in, in, in, in Florida.

56:40

[00 56:14.691 – 00:56:19.471] He offered it to AA to, to publish it, and for some reason we didn't.

56:45

[00 56:19.471 – 00:56:22.431] I still use that, and I use the Daily Reflections.

56:48

[00 56:22.431 – 00:56:27.251] And, and they've been all good for me, you know?

56:52

[00 56:27.251 – 00:56:36.891] It's w- we, we, we are to make use of what people of religion and what, what, what, what, what, what, what, uh, the libraries of the world have to offer.

57:01

[00 56:36.891 – 00:56:40.291] It says make use of what they have to offer, and I did.

57:06

[00 56:40.291 – 00:56:42.551] We're not objecting to anything.

57:08

[00 56:42.551 – 00:56:49.011] All we're doing is showing you there's a way to live better than you, than you are right now, George, and you need help.

57:15

[00 56:49.011 – 00:56:54.151] And whatever it takes to get that help, you, you should do it.

57:20

[00 56:54.151 – 00:56:57.971] 'Cause you did whatever it take to get a drink, and you did.

57:24

[00 56:57.971 – 00:57:01.811] So, the effort is, is work on sobriety.

57:27

[00 57:01.811 – 00:57:06.171] Keep it simple, one day at a time, and everything else will work out, and you've been right.

57:33

[00 57:06.171 – 00:57:10.611] You do the work, you get paid.

57:35

[00 57:10.611 – 00:57:11.411] That's what they told me.

57:37

[00 57:11.411 – 00:57:13.271] You don't do any work, you don't get a paycheck.

57:40

[00 57:13.271 – 00:57:14.451] How's that sound?

57:42

[00 57:14.451 – 00:57:21.371] Okay, Mike, you wanna come in and ask a question?

57:45

[00 57:21.371 – 00:57:23.311] Hi, George.

57:46

[00 57:23.311 – 00:57:23.551] Yeah, Mike.

57:47

[00 57:23.551 – 00:57:25.051] Thanks so much for being here tonight.

57:49

[00 57:25.051 – 00:57:28.311] I've been to that hut meeting at the Lafayette Little League field.

57:53

[00 57:28.311 – 00:57:28.751] Sure.

57:54

[00 57:28.751 – 00:57:30.991] Uh, it was many, many years ago.

57:56

[00 57:30.991 – 00:57:38.171] Do you recall, there used to be, I think it was a Cub Scout log cabin that used to be at that Little League field.

58:04

[00 57:38.171 – 00:57:38.641] Yeah.

58:05

[00 57:38.641 – 00:57:40.751] Is that where they originally had the, the meeting?

58:08

[00 57:40.751 – 00:57:41.911] Because- Yeah.

58:09

[00 57:41.911 – 00:57:52.791] When, when after they cleaned it up, 'cause when we first, when I first went to the hut, a girl named Shirley Luthey, called Squirrely Shirley, she got that for us from the city of Lafayette, and

58:21

[00 57:52.791 – 00:57:54.631] that's where we were introduced to that meeting.

58:23

[00 57:54.631 – 00:57:57.411] And the park, the parking lot was all clay.

58:26

[00 57:57.411 – 00:58:00.711] You s- you come out on a rainy day, there'd be clay all over the f- the road.

58:32

[00 58:00.711 – 00:58:03.461] You could see footprints from every- ...

58:34

[00 58:03.461 – 00:58:03.461] with the...

58:35

[00 58:03.461 – 00:58:06.611] But i- it was, it was a, it was a Little League sha- uh, Little League, uh, hut.

58:41

[00 58:06.611 – 00:58:06.831] Yeah.

58:42

[00 58:06.831 – 00:58:09.111] They had the baseball field- Yeah ...

58:44

[00 58:09.111 – 00:58:09.321] next to it.

58:45

[00 58:09.321 – 00:58:09.590] Yeah.

58:46

[00 58:09.590 – 00:58:10.451] That's still there.

58:47

[00 58:10.451 – 00:58:13.551] They've been very good to us, the city.

58:50

[00 58:13.551 – 00:58:15.191] They, they, they treat us very, very well.

58:53

[00 58:15.191 – 00:58:17.731] Most of the meetings were, uh, were at, uh, St.

58:56

[00 58:17.731 – 00:58:23.681] Mary's College, the early days, and then she got the hut, which, which made it more available to a lot of people.

59:03

[00 58:23.681 – 00:58:25.851] Oh, in Moraga.

59:04

[00 58:25.851 – 00:58:26.951] Before the hut.

59:06

[00 58:26.951 – 00:58:27.691] Yeah.

59:06

[00 58:27.691 – 00:58:29.421] Yeah.

59:07

[00 58:29.421 – 00:58:29.791] Okay.

59:07

[00 58:29.791 – 00:58:31.391] Thanks, George.

59:08

[00 58:31.391 – 00:58:32.191] Thank you.

59:09

[00 58:32.191 – 00:58:35.971] I did a 12-step call at the hut one time, George.

59:13

[00 58:35.971 – 00:58:46.051] There was a woman that, um, a drunk driver that ran her car off the road and ran into the cal- the culvert right there in front of the, where

59:23

[00 58:46.051 – 00:58:47.311] the driveway goes over.

59:24

[00 58:47.311 – 00:58:48.151] Yeah.

59:25

[00 58:48.151 – 00:58:58.171] And, um, and some guy came up and said, "Can, can I use the payphone to call the police?" And they called the police, and

59:33

[00 58:58.171 – 00:59:08.491] we went down and, and we took her, we helped her get out of her car, and we took a chair down for her, and we took a bunch of AA pamphlets, and we put 'em in her purse

59:45

[00 59:08.491 – 00:59:10.791] 'cause she was drunk.

59:47

[00 59:10.791 – 00:59:10.941] Yeah.

59:47

[00 59:10.941 – 00:59:21.031] And then we went back to the meeting, and one of the guys said, "You know, she's gonna be arrested, and she's gonna come out of that blackout tomorrow, and she's gonna have all this AA literature in her

60:00

[00 59:21.031 – 00:59:29.171] purse when they give it to her out of property." But I, I don't know if she ever made it to AA, but it was, it was really, yeah, so.

60:09

[00 59:29.171 – 00:59:30.591] Yeah, the hut is a great place.

60:12

[00 59:30.591 – 00:59:31.191] Still is.

60:12

[00 59:31.191 – 00:59:35.171] Dave B, do you wanna unmute and come in and ask a question?

60:17

[00 59:35.171 – 00:59:38.171] Yeah.

60:17

[00 59:38.171 – 00:59:39.031] Thanks, George.

60:18

[00 59:39.031 – 00:59:49.131] Uh, I was just wondering, what, what city did you get sobered in, and, uh, did you, uh, do

60:24

[00 59:49.131 – 00:59:51.521] any, uh, positions?

60:26

[00 59:51.521 – 00:59:55.411] Were you any, like, GSR or something in the bus-

60:29

[00 59:55.755 – 00:59:58.875] meetings I've done them all You've done them all?

60:32

[00 59:58.875 – 00:59:59.355] Okay.

60:33

[00 59:59.355 – 00:59:59.935] I've done them all.

60:34

[00 59:59.935 – 01:00:01.115] I've been, I've been...

60:36

[01 00:01.115 – 01:00:06.495] I did GSR, I did, uh, H&I, I, I did Intergroup.

60:40

[01 00:06.495 – 01:00:10.155] You know, everybody got their niche.

60:42

[01 00:10.155 – 01:00:15.845] Mine was I, I like working one-on-one with people, going to a coffee shop and talking to them.

60:48

[01 00:15.845 – 01:00:21.055] Everybody will find something that, that, that fits them the best, but at least give them a try.

60:54

[01 00:21.055 – 01:00:25.995] And that's what they said, "You gotta give everything a shot." And I did.

60:58

[01 00:25.995 – 01:00:28.215] Yeah.

60:59

[01 00:28.215 – 01:00:30.435] I secretaried this big speakers meeting, too.

61:01

[01 00:30.435 – 01:00:31.015] I did that.

61:03

[01 00:31.015 – 01:00:35.515] You know, you always think you can't do anything.

61:06

[01 00:35.515 – 01:00:39.235] Boy, get sober, and I tell you what, you'll find out how good you really are.

61:11

[01 00:39.235 – 01:00:44.545] Jean, would you like- Are you done?

61:13

[01 00:44.545 – 01:00:49.375] Can you, uh, un- uh, turn on your video, and come in and ask George a question?

61:19

[01 00:49.375 – 01:00:51.695] Okay.

61:20

[01 00:51.695 – 01:00:53.155] Hello.

61:20

[01 00:53.155 – 01:01:03.295] Um, uh, uh, when you 12 step, uh, did you at times, um, speak to the families of,

61:26

[01 01:03.295 – 01:01:12.215] of some of the alcoholics you 12 stepped, and let them or, um, help them understand alcoholism or point them to Al-Anon?

61:33

[01 01:12.215 – 01:01:17.715] Well, our first objection, John, uh, sh- I always went with John.

61:37

[01 01:17.715 – 01:01:20.755] John would call me up and says, "We got a wet one." Mm.

61:41

[01 01:20.755 – 01:01:29.115] He says, "Let's go get him." And we go up to the house, and usually by the time we got there, the family was nowhere around, in most cases.

61:50

[01 01:29.115 – 01:01:33.915] And the guy wasn't in too good a shape.

61:53

[01 01:33.915 – 01:01:36.355] He was, he's lucky to be standing up in front of us.

61:57

[01 01:36.355 – 01:01:41.435] But we went, and we talked to the guy.

62:00

[01 01:41.435 – 01:01:44.975] And y- y- you, you can't, you c- I don't...

62:04

[01 01:44.975 – 01:01:48.015] You, you really don't know if they're, they're hearing you, 'cause they're so darn drunk.

62:09

[01 01:48.015 – 01:01:49.335] You're so, so, so...

62:10

[01 01:49.335 – 01:01:51.915] They're so sick.

62:11

[01 01:51.915 – 01:01:56.215] But that has nothing to do with us making the call.

62:15

[01 01:56.215 – 01:01:56.695] We carry...

62:16

[01 01:56.695 – 01:02:05.455] We always took a big book with us, and we always left our phone numbers to give us a call, 'cause he may not have heard a darn thing we said.

62:26

[01 02:05.455 – 01:02:10.475] Whether he hears or not, we, we showed up and we did the job.

62:31

[01 02:10.475 – 01:02:13.775] We can't muscle these guys to get sober.

62:33

[01 02:13.775 – 01:02:19.055] All we have to let them know, there's a better way to live than the way they're living right now, and that's exactly what they did for me.

62:42

[01 02:19.055 – 01:02:22.215] Keep it simple.

62:43

[01 02:22.215 – 01:02:30.755] Hell, we had one guy, for crying out loud, we 12 stepped him.

62:47

[01 02:30.755 – 01:02:31.755] He had this big expensive...

62:49

[01 02:31.755 – 01:02:34.095] He was a vi- vice president of an international bank.

62:53

[01 02:34.095 – 01:02:36.035] He had this big expensive dog.

62:55

[01 02:36.035 – 01:02:37.795] We were getting ready to leave.

62:57

[01 02:37.795 – 01:02:38.835] The dog went out the door.

62:59

[01 02:38.835 – 01:02:41.075] He went and got his shotgun, was chasing us down the street.

63:03

[01 02:41.075 – 01:02:49.015] I hope he found his dog, or not, but we, we left fast.

63:07

[01 02:49.015 – 01:02:52.995] Oh, God, we've had some crazy ones.

63:10

[01 02:52.995 – 01:02:55.945] But the thing is, we do the work.

63:13

[01 02:55.945 – 01:02:56.935] That's all you gotta do.

63:15

[01 02:56.935 – 01:03:04.515] If the family wants to be part of the conversation, you can bring them in later on, but basically, talk to the alcoholic one-on-one.

63:22

[01 03:04.515 – 01:03:14.675] 'Cause the wife is gonna try to put pressure on him that, that, that, that, that I don't think would really help him, or, or, or the, or the husband, whatever

63:32

[01 03:14.675 – 01:03:15.055] it is.

63:33

[01 03:15.055 – 01:03:17.145] I never went on a woman's 12 step call.

63:36

[01 03:17.145 – 01:03:22.455] But you know, they just keep it to the alco- alco- one alcoholic talking to another.

63:41

[01 03:22.455 – 01:03:26.275] We speak his language, and he'll understand that.

63:44

[01 03:26.275 – 01:03:28.695] Just keep it real simple.

63:46

[01 03:28.695 – 01:03:35.235] Okay.

63:46

[01 03:35.235 – 01:03:35.865] And Dave B.

63:48

[01 03:35.865 – 01:03:39.675] wanted to come in and ask you one more question before we close the meeting.

63:52

[01 03:39.675 – 01:03:40.095] Dave?

63:53

[01 03:40.095 – 01:03:46.135] Uh, I was just gonna ask him, uh, where, where, what city that he, he got sober in.

63:59

[01 03:46.135 – 01:03:47.465] St.

64:00

[01 03:47.465 – 01:03:49.295] Timothy's, Danville, California.

64:01

[01 03:49.295 – 01:03:52.995] My first meeting, Saturday night.

64:03

[01 03:52.995 – 01:03:54.215] It was 7:30.

64:04

[01 03:54.215 – 01:04:00.315] It was an hour and a half meeting, and there was four new guys at that first meeting.

64:09

[01 04:00.315 – 01:04:04.615] And I'm the- Four new guys at that first meeting.

64:13

[01 04:04.615 – 01:04:06.715] Yeah.

64:13

[01 04:06.715 – 01:04:06.865] Yeah.

64:14

[01 04:06.865 – 01:04:08.884] I'm the only one that was alive after t- a couple years.

64:18

[01 04:08.884 – 01:04:10.555] Yeah, they all died Oh, wow.

64:20

[01 04:10.555 – 01:04:13.235] From drinking.

64:21

[01 04:13.235 – 01:04:13.245] Wow.

64:22

[01 04:13.245 – 01:04:17.355] Well, George, thank you so much for being willing to come over and do this this evening.

64:27

[01 04:17.355 – 01:04:19.795] And, um, I really appreciate it.

64:29

[01 04:19.795 – 01:04:28.015] And, um, again, I will, um, I'll let you all, um, I'll let y'all all unmute.

64:35

[01 04:28.015 – 01:04:33.655] And, um, and Victor, I'm gonna get in touch with you, and we're gonna reschedule you.

64:40

[01 04:33.655 – 01:04:36.095] Thank you so much for being able to be here.

64:43

[01 04:36.095 – 01:04:41.795] And, and all of the regulars that I get to see in this meeting every month, thank you for your support.

64:50

[01 04:41.795 – 01:04:46.715] And, uh, we'll do this again next month, last Tuesday of the month.

64:54

[01 04:46.715 – 01:04:46.935] Great.

64:55

[01 04:46.935 – 01:04:53.095] And, um, and the chat is open, if anybody wants to put anything in the chat.

65:00

[01 04:53.095 – 01:04:54.995] There is a flyer in there.

65:02

[01 04:54.995 – 01:05:05.075] Uh, daylight savings time is coming up, and, um, for those of you who go to online meetings, uh, March 9th our, uh,

65:10

[01 05:05.075 – 01:05:08.535] clocks, uh, here in the US and Canada spring forward.

65:13

[01 05:08.535 – 01:05:14.155] And, uh, UK and Europe spring forward the end of March.

65:17

[01 05:14.155 – 01:05:21.415] And, um, if you go to any meetings in Australia, they go off of daylight savings time in April.

65:23

[01 05:21.415 – 01:05:23.155] So there's a flyer there.

65:25

[01 05:23.155 – 01:05:29.495] If you wanna download it and save it, you can right click on it if you're on a computer, and save it to your hard drive.

65:33

[01 05:29.495 – 01:05:30.135] Mm-hmm.

65:34

[01 05:30.135 – 01:05:33.915] And, uh, there's some other information that Mike has put in the chat.

65:38

[01 05:33.915 – 01:05:37.195] And thank you all for being here.

65:41

[01 05:37.195 – 01:05:40.335] And, um, if y'all want to unmute...

65:43

[01 05:40.335 – 01:05:44.315] And George, I'll ask you to take us out with the prayer of your choice.

65:48

[01 05:44.315 – 01:05:49.695] Oh, that, the, the only prayer I take out is the prayer they taught me at my first meeting, the Lord's Prayer.

65:55

[01 05:49.695 – 01:05:50.935] Okay.

65:56

[01 05:50.935 – 01:05:54.455] A moment of silence for those suffering both inside the rooms and outside of it.

66:01

[01 05:54.455 – 01:05:59.395] Our Father Our Father ...

66:02

[01 05:59.395 – 01:06:01.175] who art in heaven Heaven ...

66:04

[01 06:01.175 – 01:06:02.055] hallowed be thy name.

66:06

[01 06:02.055 – 01:06:02.965] Hallowed be thy name.

66:07

[01 06:02.965 – 01:06:03.835] Thy kingdom come.

66:08

[01 06:03.835 – 01:06:04.594] Thy kingdom come.

66:10

[01 06:04.594 – 01:06:05.275] Thy will be done.

66:11

[01 06:05.275 – 01:06:06.095] Thy will be done ...

66:13

[01 06:06.095 – 01:06:08.055] on earth as it is in heaven.

66:15

[01 06:08.055 – 01:06:08.545] As it is in heaven.

66:17

[01 06:08.545 – 01:06:10.555] Give us this day Give us this day our daily bread ...

66:21

[01 06:10.555 – 01:06:10.895] our daily bread.

66:22

[01 06:10.895 – 01:06:12.935] And forgive us our trespasses.

66:24

[01 06:12.935 – 01:06:13.645] And forgive us our trespasses.

66:26

[01 06:13.645 – 01:06:16.455] As we forgive those who trespass against us.

66:28

[01 06:16.455 – 01:06:16.485] As we forgive those who trespass against us.

66:31

[01 06:16.485 – 01:06:19.995] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

66:35

[01 06:19.995 – 01:06:20.665] Deliver us from evil.

66:36

[01 06:20.665 – 01:06:21.835] For thine is the kingdom.

66:38

[01 06:21.835 – 01:06:23.205] For thine is the kingdom, the power- The power ...

66:41

[01 06:23.205 – 01:06:24.155] and the glory forever.

66:43

[01 06:24.155 – 01:06:24.555] Forever.

66:43

[01 06:24.555 – 01:06:25.415] Amen.

66:44

[01 06:25.415 – 01:06:25.945] Amen.

66:45

[01 06:25.945 – 01:06:26.675] Thank you, Penny.

66:46

[01 06:26.675 – 01:06:27.995] I appreciate it, really.

66:47

[01 06:27.995 – 01:06:29.695] Oh, thank you so much.

66:49

[01 06:29.695 – 01:06:31.165] It was so good to have you here- Thank you, guys ...

66:53

[01 06:31.165 – 01:06:32.455] and to just chat with you.

66:55

[01 06:32.455 – 01:06:32.465] Right.

66:56

[01 06:32.465 – 01:06:33.715] George, thank you.

66:57

[01 06:33.715 – 01:06:33.955] Thank you.

66:58

[01 06:33.955 – 01:06:34.005] Bye.

66:59

[01 06:34.005 – 01:06:34.875] Thanks, everybody.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

2-25-2025 Conversation with George A presented by Unknown Speaker – 2025-02-25

2-25-2025 Conversation with George A presented by Unknown Speaker – 2025-02-25

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