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conversation with Howard presented by conversation with Howard – 2025-07-29

Speaker Unknown Speaker
Date Recorded July 7, 2026
Exhibit Topic Tuesday Night History
Duration 54 Mins

conversation with Howard presented by conversation with Howard – 2025-07-29

Tuesday Night History Workshop

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Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown conversation with Howard speaking on "conversation with Howard" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (July 29, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.
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Unknown Interactive Transcript
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[00 00:02.819 – 00:00:06.719] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.
0:16
[00 00:06.719 – 00:00:16.719] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight, and tonight is the last Tuesday of July, so it is our night for Conversation With
0:25
[00 00:16.719 – 00:00:17.620] a Longtimer.
0:26
[00 00:17.620 – 00:00:20.859] And tonight we have Howard Y.
0:28
[00 00:20.859 – 00:00:25.600] from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
0:30
[00 00:25.600 – 00:00:27.160] And I lost his...
0:32
[00 00:27.160 – 00:00:27.769] Oh, there it is.
0:33
[00 00:27.769 – 00:00:32.240] And his sobriety date is January 30th, 1971.
0:36
[00 00:32.240 – 00:00:41.399] Uh, looking forward to hearing Howard's story tonight, and we meet every Tuesday night at the Recovery Speakers History Meeting.
0:44
[00 00:41.399 – 00:00:45.679] And next week is going to be Mike F.
0:47
[00 00:45.679 – 00:00:49.600] presenting 855 Ardmore, so sharing about Dr.
0:50
[00 00:49.600 – 00:00:50.219] Bob.
0:50
[00 00:50.219 – 00:00:59.840] And we, uh, we meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number, and next...
0:58
[00 00:59.840 – 00:01:01.018] Uh, I already said that.
1:00
[00 01:01.018 – 00:01:12.260] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation as well as all our past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.
1:09
[00 01:12.260 – 00:01:22.340] 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
1:17
[00 01:22.340 – 00:01:23.019] fellowships.
1:18
[00 01:23.019 – 00:01:33.019] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement
1:24
[00 01:33.019 – 00:01:35.920] available for everyone today and in the future.
1:27
[00 01:35.920 – 00:01:45.950] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library, and included in the daily
1:35
[00 01:45.950 – 00:01:51.500] emails are links to the recordings of this meeting as well as information about upcoming presentations.
1:41
[00 01:51.500 – 00:02:01.680] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link that I shared in the chat, or you can send me an email at
1:52
[00 02:01.680 – 00:02:07.659] info@recoveryspeakers.com and I will get you added to our email list.
1:57
[00 02:07.659 – 00:02:12.340] And Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c]3 public charity.
2:00
[00 02:12.340 – 00:02:22.419] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I have shared the link to our donation page in the chat, and
2:11
[00 02:22.419 – 00:02:24.280] we really appreciate all of your support.
2:14
[00 02:24.280 – 00:02:31.439] And tonight we wanna get right to it, so I will turn it right over to Penny and Howard.
2:21
[00 02:31.439 – 00:02:34.400] Thanks, Tim.
2:22
[00 02:34.400 – 00:02:35.240] Hi, y'all.
2:23
[00 02:35.240 – 00:02:36.199] I'm Penny Pennington.
2:24
[00 02:36.199 – 00:02:37.300] I'm an alcoholic.
2:26
[00 02:37.300 – 00:02:38.159] Sorry about that.
2:27
[00 02:38.159 – 00:02:39.400] That's on that recording.
2:29
[00 02:39.400 – 00:02:40.759] Hi, I'm Penny P.
2:30
[00 02:40.759 – 00:02:48.520] I'm an alcoholic, sobriety date October 9th, 1977, and I wanna welcome you to Conversation With a Longtimer.
2:37
[00 02:48.520 – 00:02:58.139] Uh, we do this on the last Tuesday night of each month, and, um, all of our longtimers that we chat with have 50 or more years of sobriety.
2:47
[00 02:58.139 – 00:03:03.539] That was just an arbitrary number I came up with when, um, I got this bright idea.
2:53
[00 03:03.539 – 00:03:13.560] Um, as most of you, um, have probably been taught by your sponsors, um, if you make a suggestion, be prepared to volunteer to follow through
3:03
[00 03:13.560 – 00:03:13.860] on it.
3:04
[00 03:13.860 – 00:03:16.500] And, uh, that's how I got the commitment.
3:07
[00 03:16.500 – 00:03:26.240] I had this bright idea and, and made the mistake of saying, "Oh, and I'm willing to take care of that," and, and Mike took me at my word and said, "Okay, it's yours.
3:19
[00 03:26.240 – 00:03:27.439] Last Tuesday of the month.
3:21
[00 03:27.439 – 00:03:37.590] Here you go." So, um, all of the recordings that we've done from previous longtimers are available at recoveryspeakers.com, and
3:29
[00 03:37.590 – 00:03:48.049] if you go onto that page and you just put in "conversation with a" in the search engine, it'll give you all of the, all of the conversations
3:39
[00 03:48.049 – 00:03:51.099] we've had with all of our amazing longtimers.
3:42
[00 03:51.099 – 00:03:56.379] We've been doing this almost three years now, which just surprises the heck out of me.
3:48
[00 03:56.379 – 00:03:59.400] So, um, we're gonna get right to it.
3:51
[00 03:59.400 – 00:04:06.099] Tim is going to spotlight, um, Howard and I, so that's what you'll have on your screen.
3:58
[00 04:06.099 – 00:04:09.819] Um, this is a little different format than some of you are used to.
4:03
[00 04:09.819 – 00:04:18.180] Howard is not going to be speaking, telling his story as much as it's going to be more of a conversation interview style.
4:11
[00 04:18.180 – 00:04:28.279] So, um, Howard, um, let's start with, uh, if you wanna go ahead and unmute, and, um,
4:18
[00 04:28.279 – 00:04:37.718] let's start with introducing yourself and giving us your sobriety date, your home group, and your sponsor.
4:24
[00 04:37.718 – 00:04:38.620] And any other- W- ...
4:26
[00 04:38.620 – 00:04:39.800] pertinent information.
4:27
[00 04:39.800 – 00:04:42.959] My name is Howard, and I'm an alcoholic.
4:30
[00 04:42.959 – 00:04:46.370] Sobered up January 30th, 1971.
4:32
[00 04:46.370 – 00:04:48.600] My sponsor is Garnet W.
4:34
[00 04:48.600 – 00:04:55.639] from Saskatoon, who was in when I sobered up, was in Prince Albert, and so, um...
4:40
[00 04:55.639 – 00:04:59.459] And, uh, my group is the Double B Study Group.
4:44
[00 04:59.459 – 00:05:09.379] Uh, we meet, uh, Tuesday noon, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday noon, Saturday night, and Sunday morning.
4:51
[00 05:09.379 – 00:05:11.779] So our club room is quite busy.
4:53
[00 05:11.779 – 00:05:17.000] We also have Al-Anon on Monday nights, so, uh, it's, it's a busy club room.
4:59
[00 05:17.000 – 00:05:27.139] Uh, as I, uh, told you l- or earlier, uh, I am g- gonna be taking a couple of newcomers, uh, to the meeting tonight,
5:08
[00 05:27.139 – 00:05:37.199] so, uh, I'll be running away as quickly as possible after we've done this tonight and, and, uh, uh, get these two new guys to, to a meeting, so just wanted to let
5:20
[00 05:37.199 – 00:05:37.519] you know.
5:21
[00 05:37.519 – 00:05:40.740] Well, well, thank you so much for making time for us this evening.
5:26
[00 05:40.740 – 00:05:42.040] I really appreciate it.
5:28
[00 05:42.040 – 00:05:51.379] And, and, uh, really grateful that these guys have you in their life to, to take them to a meeting and to introduce them to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
5:39
[00 05:51.379 – 00:06:01.500] So as I told you when we talked, um, before the meeting, we don't talk about your drinking too much, but I am gonna say,
5:48
[00 06:01.500 – 00:06:11.579] so January 30th, 1971, it sounds like either there were some New Year's resolutions that may have gone awry, or
5:55
[00 06:11.579 – 00:06:13.468] what was going on that...
5:57
[00 06:13.468 – 00:06:15.279] Had you been to AA before?
5:59
[00 06:15.279 – 00:06:20.720] What was going on that you thought coming to Alcoholics Anonymous was a good idea?
6:05
[00 06:20.720 – 00:06:31.040] Well, I, I think two or three weeks into my sobriety and, and going to meetings, uh, uh, somebody asked me,
6:12
[00 06:31.040 – 00:06:43.079] or said, "That must have been, you know, January 30th is, is your sobriety date, so that must have been a hell of a New Year's Eve party." And I said, "No, it was Halloween." And
6:25
[00 06:43.079 – 00:06:43.750] it really was.
6:27
[00 06:43.750 – 00:06:43.980] And it really was.
6:29
[00 06:43.980 – 00:06:47.889] Uh, I, I tended to get drunk and, and s-
6:32
[00 06:48.061 – 00:06:58.101] day drunk, uh, for three months at a time, and managed to go to work, uh, all, you know, and not that I could do much when I was
6:43
[00 06:58.101 – 00:06:59.541] there, but, uh, I was there.
6:45
[00 06:59.541 – 00:07:09.661] And, and, uh, then on January 30th, uh, uh, I come home, uh, 2:30, 3:00 in the morning,
6:51
[00 07:09.661 – 00:07:14.401] and, uh, uh, as per usual, my wife was waiting for me.
6:56
[00 07:14.401 – 00:07:20.161] We had two little girls, um, 11 months and, and, uh, a year and 11 months.
7:01
[00 07:20.161 – 00:07:23.981] And, uh, um, she, uh...
7:03
[00 07:23.981 – 00:07:29.741] I, I said, "You know, the reason I'm drinking so much is because I'm an alcoholic." I'd been using this excuse.
7:11
[00 07:29.741 – 00:07:32.601] I never believed it, but I'd been using it as an excuse.
7:16
[00 07:32.601 – 00:07:42.201] And that night she said, "If you're an alcoholic, you have to call Uncle Vic, who was in AA for two and a half years, or I won't be here tomorrow.
7:27
[00 07:42.201 – 00:07:43.201] I'm gone.
7:28
[00 07:43.201 – 00:07:52.881] I've had enough." So the thought crossed my mind that possibly, just possibly, I would be better off without them.
7:35
[00 07:52.881 – 00:07:57.141] You know, no responsibilities.
7:37
[00 07:57.141 – 00:07:58.261] That sounded real good.
7:39
[00 07:58.261 – 00:08:03.601] But then I thought, "Oh, what are my family and friends gonna say about me?" You know?
7:45
[00 08:03.601 – 00:08:11.041] And, uh, I said, "Okay, I'll call Uncle Vic in the morning." She said, "You're never an alcoholic in the morning.
7:53
[00 08:11.041 – 00:08:16.221] You're always an alcoholic at night, so you call now." Wow.
7:57
[00 08:16.221 – 00:08:17.581] That...
7:58
[00 08:17.581 – 00:08:19.841] She was, she'd got a little smart over the years.
8:01
[00 08:19.841 – 00:08:29.841] And, uh, so I called Uncle Vic and, uh, told him why I was calling, and he, uh, asked if I, he would, he wanted me
8:11
[00 08:29.841 – 00:08:32.061] to come over if i- right away.
8:14
[00 08:32.061 – 00:08:39.711] And I said, "No, no, tomorrow morning would be fine." Now, Sunday morning for an alcoholic is, like, 11:30, quarter to 12:00.
8:21
[00 08:39.711 – 00:08:42.301] You know, not, not 8:00 in the morning.
8:24
[00 08:42.301 – 00:08:46.701] And that's when he came, and I was sick and hungover and, oh.
8:29
[00 08:46.701 – 00:08:55.341] And he was sporting a 12 by 12, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions book, and, uh, a passel of Grapevines.
8:35
[00 08:55.341 – 00:09:02.581] Um, and apologizing to me for not having the big book for me, like I knew what the big book was.
8:42
[00 09:02.581 – 00:09:04.861] Uh, it must be a big, big book, you know?
8:46
[00 09:04.861 – 00:09:05.201] It's what...
8:47
[00 09:05.201 – 00:09:08.641] And, uh, I didn't know, didn't really care.
8:50
[00 09:08.641 – 00:09:11.341] Didn't plan on staying around for very long.
8:54
[00 09:11.341 – 00:09:14.341] Just gotta keep this woman quiet and that's all, you know?
8:58
[00 09:14.341 – 00:09:24.381] And, uh, he said, uh, that I, I should read the, the books, uh, uh, uh, as much as possible, and thank
9:06
[00 09:24.381 – 00:09:29.781] God that the Grapevines had pictures in them 'cause I couldn't concentrate long enough to read words, you know?
9:13
[00 09:29.781 – 00:09:30.231] Mm-hmm.
9:14
[00 09:30.231 – 00:09:31.501] And, and that sick.
9:15
[00 09:31.501 – 00:09:41.541] And he told me, he said that they would pick me up the next evening to take me to a meeting, and I wasn't to drink between then and
9:26
[00 09:41.541 – 00:09:42.461] when they picked me up.
9:28
[00 09:42.461 – 00:09:43.441] Oof.
9:29
[00 09:43.441 – 00:09:44.841] So I didn't drink.
9:30
[00 09:44.841 – 00:09:52.340] You know, I, that was a, that was a long time at that time for me not to drink, but I didn't drink.
9:39
[00 09:52.340 – 00:10:01.161] And when they picked me up it was, uh, my Uncle Vic, or my wife's Uncle Vic and, and, uh, a friend that I'd known all of my life.
9:49
[00 10:01.161 – 00:10:08.941] And I, I thought he'd moved out of town 'cause I didn't see him in the bars or any place like that, so he must have moved, but he'd joined AA.
10:00
[00 10:08.941 – 00:10:14.241] And, uh, he was happy to see me coming to AA, and Uncle Vic certainly was.
10:06
[00 10:14.241 – 00:10:20.821] And they took me to the psych center of the Victoria Hospital, where there, there was a meeting on Monday night.
10:14
[00 10:20.821 – 00:10:29.411] And we sat in the parking lot, and they were about to go in, and you go through the main doors of the hospital, go down the hallways- Wow ...
10:25
[00 10:29.411 – 00:10:33.541] and then down the stairs, and then walk down the long hallway to the psych center.
10:31
[00 10:33.541 – 00:10:43.141] And I s- I wasn't about to be seen with two alcoholics walking to the psych center.
10:37
[00 10:43.141 – 00:10:44.321] No way.
10:38
[00 10:44.321 – 00:10:45.321] I said, "I'm not going.
10:40
[00 10:45.321 – 00:10:46.521] Not going.
10:41
[00 10:46.521 – 00:10:53.501] Not going." So they took, they took me in a car, drove around the back of the hospital, parked me beside this door.
10:50
[00 10:53.501 – 00:11:00.521] He said, "You wait by this door and we'll let you in." And they went around the front and did their thing all the way down.
10:59
[00 11:00.521 – 00:11:04.221] And so I come into Alcoholics Anonymous through the back door.
11:03
[00 11:04.221 – 00:11:08.041] Like s- lots of Al-Anons do.
11:06
[00 11:08.041 – 00:11:10.841] But mine literally was a back door.
11:08
[00 11:10.841 – 00:11:21.181] And the thing that stood out in that meeting was the psychiatrist was, was doing the profile of the alcoholic, but prior to doing the profile,
11:18
[00 11:21.181 – 00:11:24.181] he said that he was an alcoholic also.
11:21
[00 11:24.181 – 00:11:33.921] And I thought, "Oh, gee, if, if psychiatrists can be an alcoholic, maybe I could be too, just maybe." You know?
11:29
[00 11:33.921 – 00:11:44.460] And, uh, I didn't remember much more of the meeting except in the profile I, I was fitting right through the profile except for
11:38
[00 11:44.461 – 00:11:45.321] this, the street.
11:39
[00 11:45.321 – 00:11:45.801] You know?
11:40
[00 11:45.801 – 00:11:47.041] That, that's the only thing- Uh-huh ...
11:42
[00 11:47.041 – 00:11:48.701] that was missing in, in me.
11:45
[00 11:48.701 – 00:11:52.801] And, uh, I knew I wasn't far away from there just looking at that.
11:50
[00 11:52.801 – 00:11:53.081] Yeah.
11:51
[00 11:53.081 – 00:11:58.081] So I was prepared to maybe do what they told me to do.
11:56
[00 11:58.081 – 00:12:08.101] And, uh, when they took me home, they told me that they would pick me up on Wednesday night, and I wasn't to drink between then and Wednesday night when they
12:07
[00 12:08.101 – 00:12:08.741] picked me up.
12:08
[00 12:08.741 – 00:12:18.781] Wednesday night Uncle Vic phoned, he apologized that he couldn't come to pick me up, uh, that somebody would be there on Friday
12:17
[00 12:18.781 – 00:12:26.181] night to pick me up to take me to a, a regular meeting of AA, and I wasn't to drink between then and Friday night.
12:26
[00 12:26.181 – 00:12:33.921] Now, the man that picked me up Friday night was Madge P.
12:30
[00 12:33.921 – 00:12:38.361] from, he was a farmer from north of town about 30 miles.
12:35
[00 12:38.361 – 00:12:48.501] And, and, uh, he came and he knocked on my, our apartment door, and opened the door, and he's, he held out his hand and I shook his hand, and the first thing I remembered
12:47
[00 12:48.501 – 00:12:59.061] about that, and the, still today I remember it like it was yesterday, his hand was, he had a rough farmer's hand, but it was dry, and mine
12:57
[00 12:59.061 – 00:13:00.461] was soft and wet.
12:59
[00 13:00.461 – 00:13:02.741] Yeah.
13:00
[00 13:02.741 – 00:13:05.661] Like, I really wanted to have a dry hand like that.
13:04
[00 13:05.661 – 00:13:06.681] I, uh, I...
13:05
[00 13:06.681 – 00:13:07.721] And you know what?
13:07
[00 13:07.721 – 00:13:09.501] Today I have a dry hand.
13:10
[00 13:09.501 – 00:13:12.281] So, uh, I, I've come a long way.
13:13
[00 13:12.281 – 00:13:22.561] And we had a, uh, a roundup, uh, north of town here at, uh, at, uh, Christopher Lake, you know, the Lakeland Roundup here in the middle of July.
13:23
[00 13:22.561 – 00:13:33.081] And I met Madge P., the man that took me to that meeting that, I met his great-grandson who
13:30
[00 13:33.081 – 00:13:35.761] was sober for two years, and he was-
13:33
[00 13:36.669 – 00:13:42.489] He was at the roundup, and I, I told him stories about his grandpa, you know, his great-grandpa.
13:40
[00 13:42.489 – 00:13:44.209] And, uh, that was just...
13:42
[00 13:44.209 – 00:13:46.229] It was a miracle.
13:44
[00 13:46.229 – 00:13:46.989] It really was.
13:45
[00 13:46.989 – 00:13:48.049] It felt like it, too.
13:47
[00 13:48.049 – 00:13:55.209] I- And so I went to that second meeting and- Aren't those just, aren't those just amazing gifts that we're given that- Yeah ...
13:56
[00 13:55.209 – 00:14:02.989] if, if we had been asked, "Put on the list what you think you're gonna get," we couldn't have even imagined- Never, never ...
14:04
[00 14:02.989 – 00:14:05.549] that we could get things like that in our lives.
14:08
[00 14:05.549 – 00:14:06.389] Never.
14:09
[00 14:06.389 – 00:14:06.659] Yeah.
14:10
[00 14:06.659 – 00:14:06.989] Never.
14:10
[00 14:06.989 – 00:14:07.409] Yeah.
14:11
[00 14:07.409 – 00:14:10.619] So, so Madge picked you up for the Friday night meeting.
14:15
[00 14:10.619 – 00:14:17.289] Right, and he took me, uh, to the, uh, Starlight Group, which was below, uh, our n- newspaper.
14:22
[00 14:17.289 – 00:14:24.509] The basement of the newspaper had a club room there, and, uh, that's where I, uh, met Garnet.
14:28
[00 14:24.509 – 00:14:30.589] And, uh, m- my first sponsor was Little Dave, Little Dave M.
14:33
[00 14:30.589 – 00:14:33.569] He was 4'10" and I...
14:35
[00 14:33.569 – 00:14:39.209] About two weeks later I asked Little Dave to be my sponsor because I knew I could...
14:41
[00 14:39.209 – 00:14:42.939] If he, if he got out of line, I could beat him up, no problem, you know?
14:48
[00 14:42.939 – 00:14:44.469] He's only 4'10".
14:49
[00 14:44.469 – 00:14:54.509] And, uh, uh, yeah, and he ended up being godfather to my number two daughter,
14:55
[00 14:54.629 – 00:14:59.049] and, uh, became one of the, my best friends ever, and, and, uh...
15:00
[00 14:59.049 – 00:15:02.689] But he told me when I asked him, he said that...
15:04
[00 15:02.689 – 00:15:04.339] And he had six months of sobriety.
15:07
[00 15:04.339 – 00:15:14.949] He said, "Uh, I, I'll sponsor you, but you have to get a sponsor with three or more years of sobriety, and I suggest you get Garnet." And I
15:17
[00 15:14.949 – 00:15:22.429] knew Garnet when he was drinking, and I wasn't too fond of the way he conducted himself.
15:23
[00 15:22.429 – 00:15:30.649] And, uh, and, uh, the ba- to be honest, I was scared of him is what it was.
15:30
[00 15:30.649 – 00:15:40.269] And, uh, but I asked him anyway and, and, uh, he took me under his wing and took me into his home just about every night.
15:40
[00 15:40.269 – 00:15:50.329] And we went through the Big Book word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, page by page,
15:47
[00 15:50.329 – 00:15:52.129] chapter by chapter.
15:48
[00 15:52.129 – 00:15:59.369] And he would try to explain what he thought it meant, and he would ask me what I thought it meant.
15:56
[00 15:59.369 – 00:16:00.049] Mm-hmm.
15:56
[00 16:00.049 – 00:16:01.239] Yeah.
15:57
[00 16:01.239 – 00:16:11.369] And when we were done that, and it was just the first 164 pages, he still is a believer in the first 164 pages, and he, when he
16:06
[00 16:11.369 – 00:16:18.829] gives a newcomer a Big Book, uh, today, he'll rip everything else out and just 164 pages he'll put in.
16:13
[00 16:18.829 – 00:16:27.409] Uh, and, uh, he made me want to have more.
16:17
[00 16:27.409 – 00:16:31.889] I wanted more than what I had in sobriety.
16:21
[00 16:31.889 – 00:16:36.229] Uh, he made me want what they had, you know?
16:25
[00 16:36.229 – 00:16:45.929] And I knew if I kept on doing what I was doing, going to meetings d- then, and, and they made me go through the...
16:34
[00 16:45.929 – 00:16:54.049] Not made me, but on Friday night there was a step group, and, uh, it was on step nine, uh, when I, the first meeting I was at.
16:44
[00 16:54.049 – 00:17:04.129] But, uh, uh, I went through a- and then started off with step one of when the next step group come around, and that's when I started doing the
16:54
[00 17:04.129 – 00:17:04.549] steps.
16:55
[00 17:04.549 – 00:17:05.489] Okay.
16:56
[00 17:05.489 – 00:17:13.189] And when I got to steps eight, that's when I got transferred from Prince Albert to Saskatoon.
17:02
[00 17:13.189 – 00:17:16.069] That was two and a half, three months in there someplace.
17:06
[00 17:16.069 – 00:17:24.489] And, uh, moved to Saskatoon, and that's where I finished doing that first step program.
17:12
[00 17:24.489 – 00:17:34.909] Um, Garnet and I worked on a, um, a step project, or
17:17
[00 17:34.909 – 00:17:44.569] a s- where he, he wrote out a step program which just had to do with anything in the Big Book, and only the Big Book.
17:26
[00 17:44.569 – 00:17:54.589] And y- if you went through the steps doing it that way, you literally read every word and every page
17:33
[00 17:54.589 – 00:17:57.509] several times- Mm-hmm ...
17:35
[00 17:57.509 – 00:18:00.029] uh, i- in the first 164 pages.
17:37
[00 18:00.029 – 00:18:03.089] And, uh, it was absolutely a wonderful thing.
17:40
[00 18:03.089 – 00:18:04.749] Absolutely a wonderful thing.
17:42
[00 18:04.749 – 00:18:05.049] Yeah.
17:43
[00 18:05.049 – 00:18:12.549] And so- So Garnet has been a part of your sobriety since your, since the very, very beginning.
17:49
[00 18:12.549 – 00:18:17.548] Close to- Well, even, actually even before you got sober he was a part of your life, but- Oh, yes ...
17:57
[00 18:17.548 – 00:18:18.609] but he's, yeah.
17:58
[00 18:18.609 – 00:18:23.389] So, and, uh, how long were you in Saskatoon?
18:02
[00 18:23.389 – 00:18:28.709] Did you get a new sponsor when you moved to Saskatoon, or did you- No, I, I got- ...
18:08
[00 18:28.709 – 00:18:29.409] keep Garnet as a sponsor?
18:10
[00 18:29.409 – 00:18:32.889] I got three new sponsors when I moved to Saskatoon.
18:14
[00 18:32.889 – 00:18:39.929] First of all, uh, when I, when I moved, uh, maybe you heard of Cecil C., C-C.
18:21
[00 18:39.929 – 00:18:40.169] Mm-hmm.
18:21
[00 18:40.169 – 00:18:46.609] Well, Cec made a phone call, a couple of phone calls to Saskatoon and, uh, warned them that I was coming.
18:29
[00 18:46.609 – 00:18:48.129] That's what he said.
18:31
[00 18:48.129 – 00:18:58.229] And, and, uh, they, uh, he talked to three, uh, two different, two different guys, uh, that I later asked
18:38
[00 18:58.229 – 00:18:59.189] to be my sponsor.
18:40
[00 18:59.189 – 00:19:08.749] And they, they got ahold of me the second day I was there and started bringing me to meetings and, and to lots of meetings, and 12-step calls.
18:50
[00 19:08.749 – 00:19:12.649] And you know, uh, I, they made sure that I was active every night.
18:55
[00 19:12.649 – 00:19:14.809] I mean every night, you know?
18:58
[00 19:14.809 – 00:19:16.409] They kept me going, kept me going.
19:01
[00 19:16.409 – 00:19:18.729] So what was, what was...
19:03
[00 19:18.729 – 00:19:21.668] G- let's go back to Prince Albert, where you came in.
19:07
[00 19:21.668 – 00:19:22.179] Mm-hmm.
19:08
[00 19:22.179 – 00:19:29.309] What was the first service commitment that, that you got, um, where you were of service within the group?
19:15
[00 19:29.309 – 00:19:33.949] And see, that was two and a half months.
19:18
[00 19:33.949 – 00:19:36.179] I, I d- there was no service there at all.
19:22
[00 19:36.179 – 00:19:38.049] Uh- Okay ...
19:23
[00 19:38.049 – 00:19:39.329] it, it was going to meetings.
19:25
[00 19:39.329 – 00:19:46.869] Uh, and- So were you coffee maker or setting up chairs or, or did, did you do all of that?
19:33
[00 19:46.869 – 00:19:53.489] What was the- Well, I, I put on ashtrays and, uh, you know, if I was there early type thing.
19:40
[00 19:53.489 – 00:19:58.229] Uh, but, but very, very little service i- in that first two and a half months.
19:46
[00 19:58.229 – 00:19:59.969] Um, it was going...
19:48
[00 19:59.969 – 00:20:10.069] I was, I, I was either over at Garnet's or with Little Dave, and, and when I was with Little Dave we were going to a, a, a, a, a different meeting on, on a Wednesday night
20:01
[00 20:10.069 – 00:20:12.899] or a Monday night, you know, and, and going to meetings.
20:05
[00 20:12.899 – 00:20:16.219] That's what they preached- Okay ...
20:07
[00 20:16.219 – 00:20:18.459] was go to meetings, go to meetings, go to meetings, you know?
20:12
[00 20:18.459 – 00:20:21.589] I still preach that today, you know?
20:15
[00 20:21.589 – 00:20:23.669] Uh, I never seen-
20:17
[00 20:24.064 – 00:20:28.124] Oh, I only seen one guy drinking at a meeting, and I didn't know he was.
20:23
[00 20:28.124 – 00:20:31.084] He said it was water but it wasn't water.
20:26
[00 20:31.084 – 00:20:41.284] I, I 12-stepped a woman that had a very large purse, and she kept going to the ladies room, and I didn't
20:34
[00 20:41.284 – 00:20:49.414] realize until I was driving her home and she was considerably more drunk than when I had picked her up- ...
20:41
[00 20:49.414 – 00:20:52.644] that she had a bottle in her handbag.
20:45
[00 20:52.644 – 00:20:58.024] Um, so, um, when did you start doing 12-step calls?
20:48
[00 20:58.024 – 00:21:00.724] When did they start taking you on 12-step calls?
20:52
[00 21:00.724 – 00:21:05.444] Uh, I went on one 12-step call with Garnett in that first two and a half months.
20:58
[00 21:05.444 – 00:21:06.604] Okay.
20:59
[00 21:06.604 – 00:21:11.764] And, and yeah, uh, yeah, it was kind of a scary thing, you know?
21:04
[00 21:11.764 – 00:21:16.114] Uh, uh, anything like that new without booze- Yeah ...
21:08
[00 21:16.114 – 00:21:21.864] you know, it was a scary thing, but I was with Garnett and he kept me sort of cool all the time, you know?
21:16
[00 21:21.864 – 00:21:30.344] And, and that 12-step call, um, it didn't really turn out, uh, where the guy sobered up.
21:23
[00 21:30.344 – 00:21:40.364] And I was, uh, another, another time I was taken, uh, um, shortly after I moved to Saskatoon, I was back for a
21:31
[00 21:40.364 – 00:21:50.464] meeting here and, and working, uh, trav- I was traveling and, uh, uh, Prince Albert was part of my territory and, and I, I pi- picked up a guy to
21:42
[00 21:50.464 – 00:22:00.464] take him to Saskatoon to, to rehab and he jumped out of my car halfway there and the, uh, RCMP cop
21:50
[00 22:00.464 – 00:22:05.704] behind me, uh, pulled over and he was begging the guy to please go 'cause he knew him.
21:56
[00 22:05.704 – 00:22:12.784] And, uh, and that was sort of like a 12-step call with the RCMP.
22:02
[00 22:12.784 – 00:22:22.924] So, um, it, but it wasn't until Saskatoon that, uh, that I really started getting busy doing 12-step work, doing, um, like making the coffee,
22:11
[00 22:22.924 – 00:22:25.584] uh, opening the meeting, you know?
22:13
[00 22:25.584 – 00:22:34.514] Uh, anybody that chaired the meeting, uh, and you usually chaired for a month at a time type thing, you were asked to be the first one there to make coffee- Ah ...
22:25
[00 22:34.514 – 00:22:36.544] to set up the tables, whatever, you know.
22:28
[00 22:36.544 – 00:22:47.764] And, uh, so I did that for a few years and, and, uh, and then some of the 12-step calls, uh, that we went on were, uh,
22:38
[00 22:47.764 – 00:22:57.784] uh, an example, I was, I don't know, a year and a half, two years sober, uh, when a guy tried to commit suicide by taking seven Antabuse with a bottle of
22:49
[00 22:57.784 – 00:22:58.164] whiskey.
22:50
[00 22:58.164 – 00:23:00.944] And oh- Okay ...
22:51
[00 23:00.944 – 00:23:01.354] he was sick.
22:53
[00 23:01.354 – 00:23:06.144] He was so sick that he went to the hospital, but they kicked him out 'cause he was just a drunk, you know?
23:01
[00 23:06.144 – 00:23:06.734] Yeah.
23:02
[00 23:06.734 – 00:23:08.384] And that's what they did back then, you know?
23:05
[00 23:08.384 – 00:23:08.864] Yeah.
23:06
[00 23:08.864 – 00:23:18.933] And we sat with him pouring water down his gut for, I don't know what, I s- I s- I did it for just about a day, uh, and
23:17
[00 23:18.933 – 00:23:22.164] it wasn't a pleasant smelling place at all, really.
23:20
[00 23:22.164 – 00:23:22.713] No, it wasn't.
23:21
[00 23:22.713 – 00:23:29.264] It was over in, in a basement suite of a house and, and, uh, it, it, it reeked quite bad.
23:29
[00 23:29.264 – 00:23:30.964] Yeah.
23:30
[00 23:30.964 – 00:23:31.713] Yeah.
23:30
[00 23:31.713 – 00:23:36.834] And he, he didn't die, but he wished he would have on many occasions after.
23:36
[00 23:36.834 – 00:23:38.604] I b- And- I bet he would have, yeah.
23:39
[00 23:38.604 – 00:23:42.764] So w- we did lots of 12-step work.
23:42
[00 23:42.764 – 00:23:44.404] Lots, lots of 12-step.
23:44
[00 23:44.404 – 00:23:51.254] And do you remember getting your first sponsee, the first guy that you sponsored?
23:49
[00 23:51.254 – 00:23:52.484] Yes, as a matter of fact.
23:52
[00 23:52.484 – 00:23:55.544] As a matter of fact, I did.
23:55
[00 23:55.544 – 00:24:05.604] Um, I, uh, he, he was a guy from, he said from Hamilton, Ontario,
24:00
[00 24:05.604 – 00:24:12.524] and that his brother was a, a mafia capo.
24:04
[00 24:12.524 – 00:24:19.704] And of course, you know, you can always tell an alcoholic's lying, there's no ones, if their lips are moving, you know?
24:12
[00 24:19.704 – 00:24:28.544] So I, I figured he was bullshitting me, but I'll go along with it, and I found out 40 years later that it was true.
24:20
[00 24:28.544 – 00:24:31.834] Oh.
24:21
[00 24:31.834 – 00:24:37.284] It was true, and literally his brother kicked him out of the, the mafia family because he was drunk all the time.
24:29
[00 24:37.284 – 00:24:47.504] And I don't know what ever happened to him, but he was with me, um, for, I don't know, it was a few months, and we spent lots of time together and, but,
24:41
[00 24:47.504 – 00:24:52.124] uh, he went further west and I lost track of him and don't know what happened.
24:47
[00 24:52.124 – 00:24:52.924] Yeah.
24:48
[00 24:52.924 – 00:24:57.424] But that was my first one, and there's been lots and lots since.
24:53
[00 24:57.424 – 00:25:07.564] So when you, um, because I know that you're still very active in 12-step work because you're picking a couple of guys up right after
25:02
[00 25:07.564 – 00:25:09.724] the meeting tonight to get them to a meeting.
25:05
[00 25:09.724 – 00:25:09.874] Mm-hmm.
25:06
[00 25:09.874 – 00:25:19.664] And, um, I think you do some corrections work now, I believe, is, I think that's what you s- what you said, that you, the jails, um, maybe.
25:16
[00 25:19.664 – 00:25:22.994] Is that correct, or is it- Well, I, I used to do that.
25:21
[00 25:22.994 – 00:25:29.744] I, I haven't done it for a number of years now, but, uh, I used to take guys from the penitentiary out.
25:29
[00 25:29.744 – 00:25:39.764] Uh, there's four lifers that I took out that are all still sober today, and the least
25:35
[00 25:39.764 – 00:25:44.064] that one is sober would be 25 years.
25:38
[00 25:44.064 – 00:25:44.924] Wow.
25:39
[00 25:44.924 – 00:25:49.464] Yeah, that they've been sober and out and all of them doing well.
25:44
[00 25:49.464 – 00:25:54.024] We stay in touch, um, on a somewhat regular basis, you know, whenever we can.
25:49
[00 25:54.024 – 00:25:58.324] They're, they're no longer around here, so, uh, it's, it's, it's kind of tough.
25:55
[00 25:58.324 – 00:26:02.984] But yeah, um, there are some hecka, heckas good stories.
25:58
[00 26:02.984 – 00:26:04.344] Yeah.
25:59
[00 26:04.344 – 00:26:13.904] So, um, when you get a new sponsee, um, do you take them through the book the same way that Garnett took you through the book?
26:09
[00 26:13.904 – 00:26:23.984] It was, uh, 34 years ago when we'd done the first, uh, 12-step program that, that Garnett, uh, and he
26:16
[00 26:23.984 – 00:26:26.584] says I, uh, helped write.
26:18
[00 26:26.584 – 00:26:36.644] Um, and, uh, for the next 10 years or so, I would do one a year, and then for
26:24
[00 26:36.644 – 00:26:40.894] the next 20 or 25 years, I did two a year.
26:28
[00 26:40.894 – 00:26:43.984] Uh, and they- they're 15 weeks long.
26:30
[00 26:43.984 – 00:26:45.084] Okay.
26:31
[00 26:45.084 – 00:26:49.064] Um, and it's, I don't know how many people have went through them now.
26:36
[00 26:49.064 – 00:26:59.224] Uh, this cur- well, the, the, this st- 12-step program that, that Garnett, uh, wrote is, is literally all over
26:44
[00 26:59.224 – 00:27:00.103] the world now.
26:45
[00 27:00.103 – 00:27:10.184] Um, and, and I, like I said, I would think, uh, an average of 12 or 13, um,
26:51
[00 27:10.184 – 00:27:11.864] would, would, uh, take-
26:53
[00 27:11.992 – 00:27:14.672] The steps in each, each step program.
26:55
[00 27:14.672 – 00:27:20.132] And, uh, so it, it's, uh, that's a heck of a pile of people, you know?
27:01
[00 27:20.132 – 00:27:30.312] That is a heck of a lot of pe- that's a, a lot of lives that you're touching just by being of service in the program of Alcoholics Anonymous,
27:12
[00 27:30.312 – 00:27:32.232] and what an amazing gift.
27:14
[00 27:32.232 – 00:27:34.512] And I know, and I know who got the most out of it.
27:19
[00 27:34.512 – 00:27:35.372] Yes.
27:20
[00 27:35.372 – 00:27:35.582] Mm-hmm.
27:20
[00 27:35.582 – 00:27:36.232] Yes.
27:21
[00 27:36.232 – 00:27:37.982] Yeah.
27:22
[00 27:37.982 – 00:27:45.992] Yeah, I think, you know, when we talk about people that we've 12-stepped and we don't know what happened to them, the thing that we do know is that we stayed sober.
27:33
[00 27:45.992 – 00:27:46.772] Exactly.
27:34
[00 27:46.772 – 00:27:49.112] And yeah, we took the actions.
27:36
[00 27:49.112 – 00:27:55.452] Old Cecil used to say every, he said, "I've been on 1,000 12-step calls and every one has been successful.
27:43
[00 27:55.452 – 00:27:57.592] I'm still sober." Yeah.
27:45
[00 27:57.592 – 00:27:59.232] Yeah.
27:46
[00 27:59.232 – 00:28:08.612] So, um, so y- y- Garnet took you through the steps.
27:50
[00 28:08.612 – 00:28:09.832] What's, um...
27:51
[00 28:09.832 – 00:28:20.052] I wanna go b- I really loved when you talked about y- your wife confronting you and saying, "You're never an alcoholic in the morning." So
28:01
[00 28:20.052 – 00:28:27.132] how are things changing at home, and did your wife, was your wife active in Al-Anon?
28:07
[00 28:27.132 – 00:28:31.132] Um, and what, uh, what was that like?
28:10
[00 28:31.132 – 00:28:37.772] Was she, was she comfortable with you going, now that you've stopped drinking, but now you're going to all these AA meetings?
28:18
[00 28:37.772 – 00:28:39.872] What's, how was that going?
28:20
[00 28:39.872 – 00:28:46.572] Well, yeah, she joined Al-Anon right after I joined AA.
28:24
[00 28:46.572 – 00:28:52.792] And, uh, she hasn't been really active in the past, oh, 15, 20 years.
28:28
[00 28:52.792 – 00:28:56.212] Uh, but still, it's, it's up here, that's for sure.
28:32
[00 28:56.212 – 00:28:59.652] Uh, and, but she ha- she hasn't been well either.
28:36
[00 28:59.652 – 00:29:03.972] So, but our...
28:37
[00 29:03.972 – 00:29:14.072] I remember one of my sponsors in Saskatoon asked me one time, "How is the communication in your family?" I
28:45
[00 29:14.072 – 00:29:14.632] said, "Good.
28:46
[00 29:14.632 – 00:29:19.532] Really, really good." He said, "What are you talking about?" I said, "I don't know.
28:51
[00 29:19.532 – 00:29:23.712] What- whatever it is, the news, the weather." He said, "That's not communication.
28:56
[00 29:23.712 – 00:29:29.372] When you're talking about you and how you feel is communication.
29:01
[00 29:29.372 – 00:29:40.012] Do you tell your wife how you feel about things?" I said, "No, I guess not." He said, "Maybe you should." "Well," I said, "if, but if I tell her
29:11
[00 29:40.012 – 00:29:46.352] that I'm not feeling good about something, she's gonna think I'm weak." You know what?
29:17
[00 29:46.352 – 00:29:52.732] The first time I done that, it was exactly the opposite that she thought.
29:22
[00 29:52.732 – 00:29:58.692] My way of thinking was totally wrong.
29:25
[00 29:58.692 – 00:30:08.972] And, and how this program and the 12 steps of this program changed me, it brought me closer to my wife and my children.
29:33
[00 30:08.972 – 00:30:15.672] We had, uh, two children, two children before I sobered up, and two after.
29:39
[00 30:15.672 – 00:30:20.622] And the ones after are Elena and Aaron, AA.
29:42
[00 30:20.622 – 00:30:24.052] And it wasn't planned that way, it just happened to me.
29:46
[00 30:24.052 – 00:30:28.192] I told them they're my AA children, you know?
29:50
[00 30:28.192 – 00:30:38.192] And the, the communication that, that, that, the tightness that our, that we have on our
29:56
[00 30:38.192 – 00:30:41.832] family is really something.
29:58
[00 30:41.832 – 00:30:50.172] I, we had all f- we had three of them, uh, show up o- on the weekend and, and we just had a hell of a good time, you know?
30:08
[00 30:50.172 – 00:30:52.632] And they just showed up unannounced.
30:11
[00 30:52.632 – 00:30:59.572] And that's, that's what we get today, you know, is, is that kind of love, you know?
30:17
[00 30:59.572 – 00:31:00.062] Mm-hmm.
30:18
[00 31:00.062 – 00:31:03.912] Uh, the kind of love I have for my wife today, I never thought possible.
30:24
[00 31:03.912 – 00:31:07.292] I didn't, I couldn't have thought possible, you know?
30:27
[00 31:07.292 – 00:31:07.612] Yeah.
30:28
[00 31:07.612 – 00:31:10.212] And, and that's what we have today, you know?
30:31
[00 31:10.212 – 00:31:12.212] Um- Yeah ...
30:32
[00 31:12.212 – 00:31:16.552] I can finish off her sentences and she can finish off mine, you know?
30:38
[00 31:16.552 – 00:31:20.592] We've been married for 56 years.
30:40
[00 31:20.592 – 00:31:21.572] Wow.
30:40
[00 31:21.572 – 00:31:25.952] And, and, uh, uh- That's wonderful ...
30:43
[00 31:25.952 – 00:31:26.312] yeah.
30:43
[00 31:26.312 – 00:31:30.092] And a, a good 50 of them are pretty darn good, you know?
30:48
[00 31:30.092 – 00:31:31.311] Pretty darn good.
30:49
[00 31:31.311 – 00:31:33.811] That first four was a learning experience.
30:52
[00 31:33.811 – 00:31:34.482] It really was.
30:54
[00 31:34.482 – 00:31:36.192] You know, it really was.
30:56
[00 31:36.192 – 00:31:46.312] And like I, but, you know, um, that first, not first time, but after the 10th time I come in at,
31:03
[00 31:46.312 – 00:31:48.672] at midnight when I was sober.
31:06
[00 31:48.672 – 00:31:50.962] You know, because we'd go for coffee after the meeting.
31:10
[00 31:50.962 – 00:31:51.232] Yeah.
31:10
[00 31:51.232 – 00:31:56.402] And, and the, the meetings would last until 10:00 or 10:30, then we'd go for coffee after.
31:16
[00 31:56.402 – 00:32:00.732] So it was 12 o'clock by the time I got home, and she was sleeping.
31:21
[00 32:00.732 – 00:32:03.312] Oh.
31:22
[00 32:03.312 – 00:32:05.712] So I knew it was okay, you know?
31:25
[00 32:05.712 – 00:32:08.381] 'Cause she never slept when I was drinking.
31:28
[00 32:08.381 – 00:32:08.951] Yes.
31:29
[00 32:08.951 – 00:32:10.212] Yeah.
31:30
[00 32:10.212 – 00:32:12.852] So the trust come back in our marriage, you know?
31:34
[00 32:12.852 – 00:32:14.312] Wow, that's amazing.
31:35
[00 32:14.312 – 00:32:15.212] Yeah.
31:36
[00 32:15.212 – 00:32:19.352] And it's little things like that that we just go, "Wow," you know?
31:41
[00 32:19.352 – 00:32:21.872] And that we never would have put on the list.
31:44
[00 32:21.872 – 00:32:22.702] Mm-hmm.
31:45
[00 32:22.702 – 00:32:25.202] So, so when you- Well- ...
31:47
[00 32:25.202 – 00:32:33.292] when you came into AA, did you, um, did you have any background in any faith or any belief in a higher power?
31:56
[00 32:33.292 – 00:32:41.372] Um, did you struggle at all with, um, with God in AA, or did you, um...
32:02
[00 32:41.372 – 00:32:51.412] When, when I came in, I was, you know, Bill uses the word delusional in, in chapter three, and defiant, and that was me, and
32:11
[00 32:51.412 – 00:32:53.232] I was defiantly delusional.
32:12
[00 32:53.232 – 00:32:57.972] Um, and I really fought against that higher power thing.
32:16
[00 32:57.972 – 00:33:05.912] Um, I wouldn't call myself an agnostic or an atheist, but I really, I, I didn't wanna be forced to have to find a higher power.
32:26
[00 33:05.912 – 00:33:07.512] Did you struggle with any of that?
32:29
[00 33:07.512 – 00:33:14.432] Oh, I, yeah, I think it, like most in AA, uh, I did a bit of struggling.
32:35
[00 33:14.432 – 00:33:22.272] I, I, I had an upbringing where, you know, a, a, as a child and, and young teenager, I, I went to church.
32:43
[00 33:22.272 – 00:33:28.452] And when I found alcohol, uh, church was, you know, no more, you know?
32:49
[00 33:28.452 – 00:33:37.912] A- And, and when I got to chapter two, we agnostics, uh, we agnostics.
32:54
[00 33:37.912 – 00:33:44.852] And I remember Garnet tell, saying, "Do you know what that word means?" And I said, "I've never seen this word before in my life.
33:03
[00 33:44.852 – 00:33:50.352] How am I supposed to know what it means?" And so he went on to explain to me what agnostic is.
33:11
[00 33:50.352 – 00:33:59.862] But for me, I, I got a, my own interpretation or my own, um, description-
33:16
[00 33:59.987 – 00:34:01.287] Of an, a- agnostic.
33:18
[00 34:01.287 – 00:34:07.707] And it's the great pianist who played throughout the world, and he was...
33:23
[00 34:07.707 – 00:34:09.457] He'd have standing ovations.
33:25
[00 34:09.457 – 00:34:14.767] And, and when he was told that God has really blessed him, he said, "God's got nothing to do with this.
33:32
[00 34:14.767 – 00:34:15.587] It's me.
33:33
[00 34:15.587 – 00:34:18.207] You know, it's me, me, me." You know?
33:36
[00 34:18.207 – 00:34:21.267] And then he got arthritis in his fingers.
33:40
[00 34:21.267 – 00:34:24.847] He could no longer play, and he blamed God for it.
33:44
[00 34:24.847 – 00:34:26.827] That is the agnostic.
33:46
[00 34:26.827 – 00:34:30.687] To me, that was me.
33:48
[00 34:30.687 – 00:34:32.187] If it was good, I'd done it.
33:50
[00 34:32.187 – 00:34:34.507] If it was bad, God was getting even.
33:54
[00 34:34.507 – 00:34:36.227] You know, He was getting me, you know.
33:57
[00 34:36.227 – 00:34:41.007] That's my, my definition of it.
33:59
[00 34:41.007 – 00:34:42.267] Okay.
34:00
[00 34:42.267 – 00:34:46.287] So what is your, um, what is your routine today?
34:04
[00 34:46.287 – 00:34:46.827] How did...
34:05
[00 34:46.827 – 00:34:50.967] So, um, you're active in Alcoholics Anonymous.
34:08
[00 34:50.967 – 00:34:51.967] You're doing service.
34:09
[00 34:51.967 – 00:34:53.467] You're doing 12-step calls.
34:11
[00 34:53.467 – 00:35:00.267] And March 13th, 2020 hits, and we all go into quarantine.
34:15
[00 35:00.267 – 00:35:02.227] Well, we did here in the US.
34:17
[00 35:02.227 – 00:35:04.767] I don't know when y'all went in in Canada.
34:21
[00 35:04.767 – 00:35:15.167] And w- what was your experience, um, at the beginning of the pandemic, and getting involved le- getting, staying involved
34:28
[00 35:15.167 – 00:35:15.767] in AA?
34:29
[00 35:15.767 – 00:35:17.347] What was that like for you?
34:32
[00 35:17.347 – 00:35:23.377] Well, it, it began, uh, when we couldn't, uh, do anything.
34:36
[00 35:23.377 – 00:35:28.127] It, uh, it, it began with Zoom meetings, like we're having tonight.
34:41
[00 35:28.127 – 00:35:38.187] And then, uh, myself and a, a friend in AA, we on a, one Sunday morning we got together and we went over
34:49
[00 35:38.187 – 00:35:45.867] to the club room, opened the door and made a pot of coffee, and sat there and talked, because, well, the club room was like a second home, you know?
35:00
[00 35:45.867 – 00:35:47.807] And, and we really felt comfortable there.
35:03
[00 35:47.807 – 00:35:51.987] And, and we'd have a talk and, and, uh, complain about COVID.
35:07
[00 35:51.987 – 00:35:58.827] And, and then we had a third friend meet us, uh, a, a week later or two weeks later.
35:14
[00 35:58.827 – 00:36:05.967] And, uh, uh, we were s- we started doing this every, every morning, is having coffee at the club room.
35:22
[00 36:05.967 – 00:36:15.027] And, and, uh, then the third guy, it, and it was a Sunday morning, oh, probably, uh, almost a year later.
35:29
[00 36:15.027 – 00:36:17.147] Well, not, it was six months for sure.
35:32
[00 36:17.147 – 00:36:25.467] And we, uh, we were in the club room and it was Sunday morning when there was a knock on the door, and there was a fourth friend, Cliff.
35:43
[00 36:25.467 – 00:36:31.927] He said, "Are you guys having a meeting?" I said, "We are now." And so the four of us had a meeting.
35:51
[00 36:31.927 – 00:36:39.507] And then we said, "What we have to do is open the club room again, and we'll make sure we're all masked.
35:59
[00 36:39.507 – 00:36:46.607] We'll make sure we're 10 feet apart like these new laws or whatever it is is saying." And we started having meetings again.
36:07
[00 36:46.607 – 00:36:50.127] Sunday morning, Tuesday night, Thursday night.
36:10
[00 36:50.127 – 00:36:54.107] And then there was a little bit more would show up, a little bit more would show up.
36:16
[00 36:54.107 – 00:36:54.387] You know?
36:17
[00 36:54.387 – 00:36:56.987] And then the other groups in town started meeting.
36:21
[00 36:56.987 – 00:37:01.887] And, you know, it just started growing again and really feeling good.
36:25
[00 37:01.887 – 00:37:03.747] Yeah, we lost some members.
36:27
[00 37:03.747 – 00:37:04.407] We did.
36:28
[00 37:04.407 – 00:37:08.857] Uh, like, I suspect almost everywhere in the world because of it.
36:33
[00 37:08.857 – 00:37:09.167] Yeah.
36:34
[00 37:09.167 – 00:37:13.107] Um, but we all got closer too because of it.
36:38
[00 37:13.107 – 00:37:15.206] And we all got closer.
36:40
[00 37:15.206 – 00:37:22.497] And we all gained members, too, because of the people who got sober on Zoom during that time, that- Hear, hear.
36:47
[00 37:22.497 – 00:37:32.557] Um, yeah, the, the number of people that have joined us, uh, in the fellowship, some of whom are sitting in the room tonight, I know, because I've seen some of the names that
37:00
[00 37:32.557 – 00:37:33.797] have come through the waiting room.
37:02
[00 37:33.797 – 00:37:34.657] Mm-hmm.
37:03
[00 37:34.657 – 00:37:39.307] And I know a few people in here that got sober on, uh, in the online community.
37:09
[00 37:39.307 – 00:37:45.667] So, um, so do you have any...
37:12
[00 37:45.667 – 00:37:55.867] When, when you speak at an AA meeting, is there something, some story of yours in recovery that you really love to talk about that just really
37:22
[00 37:55.867 – 00:38:04.707] shows the gift of sobriety for you, or something that just, where God really hit you over the head with a two-by-four and got your attention?
37:31
[00 38:04.707 – 00:38:08.167] Do you have any stories like that that you'd like to share with us?
37:36
[00 38:08.167 – 00:38:18.447] Well, in 2015 my friend Grant and I, I don't know if Grant's on here tonight, but, uh, uh, we drove, uh,
37:44
[00 38:18.447 – 00:38:18.967] to Atlanta.
37:45
[00 38:18.967 – 00:38:20.366] And we took...
37:47
[00 38:20.366 – 00:38:22.427] What we were planning on doing was taking two weeks.
37:50
[00 38:22.427 – 00:38:31.007] And, uh, we left, uh, on the 28th of June, and come back some, uh, 14 days later or whatever.
37:57
[00 38:31.007 – 00:38:40.507] But after we'd, we'd done, uh, the Atlanta conference, we drove up to, uh, Akron to see where this all began.
38:05
[00 38:40.507 – 00:38:48.747] And when we passed through, uh, Louisville, Kentucky, it was raining so hard y- y- you couldn't see.
38:12
[00 38:48.747 – 00:38:57.927] We were driving 25 miles an hour on, on, uh, a two or three lane highway, and you g- gotta keep on going.
38:20
[00 38:57.927 – 00:38:59.687] Like, it was just, it was crazy.
38:23
[00 38:59.687 – 00:39:09.787] And when we got into Akron it was still raining hard, but not as hard, and we, uh, woke up in the morning and the sun
38:32
[00 39:09.787 – 00:39:12.607] was shining absolutely brilliant.
38:34
[00 39:12.607 – 00:39:14.037] It was...
38:35
[00 39:14.037 – 00:39:15.307] Everything looked surreal.
38:36
[00 39:15.307 – 00:39:23.607] We drove by the Firestone Golf and Country Club on the way, uh, to the Cyberland Estate, and it was like it was a picture postcard.
38:46
[00 39:23.607 – 00:39:25.587] It was, uh, so beautiful.
38:48
[00 39:25.587 – 00:39:27.047] Absolutely beautiful.
38:49
[00 39:27.047 – 00:39:28.507] You knew God was there.
38:51
[00 39:28.507 – 00:39:32.367] And we went into, uh, the Cyberlink gatehouse.
38:54
[00 39:32.367 – 00:39:33.847] We were the only ones there.
38:57
[00 39:33.847 – 00:39:37.347] And, uh, we sat at the table.
38:59
[00 39:37.347 – 00:39:38.317] We're Dr.
39:00
[00 39:38.317 – 00:39:48.347] Bob and Bill Matten, and I said, "I'll be Bill and you be Bob." And so we, we had a little, a little meeting, and then
39:10
[00 39:48.347 – 00:39:49.067] we drove to Dr.
39:12
[00 39:49.067 – 00:39:49.987] Bob's house.
39:13
[00 39:49.987 – 00:39:55.707] And, uh, we're standing on the sidewalk looking up at the house.
39:17
[00 39:55.707 – 00:39:58.807] It, it goes up in levels, as many of you know.
39:21
[00 39:58.807 – 00:40:02.027] And the, like I said, it was the most beautiful morning.
39:26
[00 40:02.027 – 00:40:05.527] And I said, "You know, Grant, if Dr.
39:29
[00 40:05.527 – 00:40:11.727] Bob were alive today, you and he would be good friends." And he said, "Really?" And I said, "Yes, Dr.
39:36
[00 40:11.727 – 00:40:21.067] Bob was a proctologist and you're an asshole." And that's one of my favorite stories.
39:42
[00 40:21.067 – 00:40:23.767] It's one of Grant's favorite stories also.
39:45
[00 40:23.767 – 00:40:31.507] And I, it's got little to do with God and, but it was, it was a picture postcard moment.
39:52
[00 40:31.507 – 00:40:32.667] It really, really was.
39:53
[00 40:32.667 – 00:40:42.687] And, and to be with a friend like that in, in that place at, at that time, uh, it was, it was, I don't know
40:02
[00 40:42.687 – 00:40:45.087] how many times I had chills through that two weeks.
40:06
[00 40:45.087 – 00:40:45.517] Wow.
40:07
[00 40:45.517 – 00:40:47.807] Literally my arms and my legs, my body-
40:10
[00 40:48.015 – 00:40:50.755] Just vibrating from chills, you know?
40:13
[00 40:50.755 – 00:40:50.784] Yeah.
40:13
[00 40:50.784 – 00:40:58.095] When, when everybody stood up on Saturday night at the roundup, and one year sit down, two year sit down type thing.
40:21
[00 40:58.095 – 00:40:58.525] Mm-hmm.
40:22
[00 40:58.525 – 00:41:04.875] I, I was 44 years and I was the last one standing in my, the section of, of that football stadium.
40:29
[00 41:04.875 – 00:41:08.735] And when I sat down I literally got attacked by people.
40:34
[00 41:08.735 – 00:41:14.495] I got hugged, I got kissed, and oh, eh, I get chills just thinking about it today.
40:40
[00 41:14.495 – 00:41:15.145] Wow.
40:41
[00 41:15.145 – 00:41:15.255] Yeah.
40:41
[00 41:15.255 – 00:41:23.215] And then at the end of, e- end, when that ended all, there was one boy from, I believe, South Carolina standing.
40:49
[00 41:23.215 – 00:41:28.915] He had a white beard and white hair, and he was 66 years sober, and I cried.
40:55
[00 41:28.915 – 00:41:30.995] Yeah.
40:56
[00 41:30.995 – 00:41:32.355] Yeah.
40:57
[00 41:32.355 – 00:41:33.575] It was a beautiful moment.
40:59
[00 41:33.575 – 00:41:34.065] Yeah.
41:00
[00 41:34.065 – 00:41:35.155] It was a God moment.
41:02
[00 41:35.155 – 00:41:38.275] How many internationals have you been able to go to?
41:05
[00 41:38.275 – 00:41:39.655] One.
41:06
[00 41:39.655 – 00:41:41.875] Oh, just the one in Atlanta?
41:09
[00 41:41.875 – 00:41:42.915] Yep.
41:09
[00 41:42.915 – 00:41:44.144] Oh, so you didn't- But- ...
41:11
[00 41:44.144 – 00:41:46.335] get to go to, uh, Vancouver this year.
41:15
[00 41:46.335 – 00:41:53.815] No, I, uh, I haven't been totally well either, so, uh, uh, but I'm not gonna get into any, any- Yeah ...
41:22
[00 41:53.815 – 00:41:56.294] of my medical problems, that's for sure.
41:25
[00 41:56.294 – 00:41:56.605] But, uh, yeah.
41:27
[00 41:56.605 – 00:41:58.055] I under- Yeah, I understand.
41:29
[00 41:58.055 – 00:42:01.115] I couldn't go to Vancouver for the same reason, so yeah.
41:33
[00 42:01.115 – 00:42:03.415] So wow.
41:34
[00 42:03.415 – 00:42:05.375] So I didn't get to go to Atlanta.
41:37
[00 42:05.375 – 00:42:11.095] I went to Toronto and Seattle and San Diego and Montr- uh, Minnesota.
41:42
[00 42:11.095 – 00:42:15.655] Um, so I've been to a few, but, um, yeah.
41:46
[00 42:15.655 – 00:42:23.855] It's an amazing experience, and the, the countdown is just fabulous and, uh, it's really...
41:51
[00 42:23.855 – 00:42:29.515] And, and I, another reason why is because I traveled so much in, in, in my jobs.
41:58
[00 42:29.515 – 00:42:30.035] Mm-hmm.
41:58
[00 42:30.035 – 00:42:35.915] That, uh, I, uh, I, I owed my home some home time, you know?
42:04
[00 42:35.915 – 00:42:36.615] Yes.
42:04
[00 42:36.615 – 00:42:37.554] It was like- Yeah.
42:06
[00 42:37.554 – 00:42:45.195] Well, I'm gonna ask Tim to unpin us and so that we can see the whole gallery in the room.
42:13
[00 42:45.195 – 00:42:55.545] And, um, before the meeting I did, uh, say that if, um, if y- anybody has any questions while we're talking
42:21
[00 42:55.545 – 00:43:05.715] or if you have anything that you would like to come in and, um, ask of Howard, um, please raise your digital hand.
42:30
[00 43:05.715 – 00:43:11.125] We will ask you to turn on your camera to, um, ask a question.
42:35
[00 43:11.125 – 00:43:14.955] But, um, does any- anyone have a question for Howard?
42:39
[00 43:14.955 – 00:43:23.055] I can, I can keep talking with him, but, um, we always love hearing questions from, from the people that are in the room.
42:47
[00 43:23.055 – 00:43:27.415] No questions.
42:48
[00 43:27.415 – 00:43:33.435] You sat and listened to this wonderful long-timer share his story and you don't have a question for him.
42:55
[00 43:33.435 – 00:43:34.935] Okay.
42:56
[00 43:34.935 – 00:43:38.875] So, uh, Tim's got a question.
42:59
[00 43:38.875 – 00:43:43.835] I have a question, and I hope I didn't miss you talking about it at all.
43:05
[00 43:43.835 – 00:43:48.995] But you said that you travel a lot for work, did you get to meetings a lot on the road?
43:12
[00 43:48.995 – 00:43:53.035] Oh, just about every night, Tim.
43:14
[00 43:53.035 – 00:43:59.455] When I was out on the road I'd, I'd, I'd be gone for a week, two weeks at a time, and just about every night I'd go to meetings.
43:25
[00 43:59.455 – 00:44:09.475] When I had my 13th birthday, AA birthday, January 30th, uh, would've been 1984, uh, I had it at the, I think
43:33
[00 44:09.475 – 00:44:12.755] it was a 7:52 group in Minot, North Dakota.
43:36
[00 44:12.755 – 00:44:22.775] And I'd been there a few times before, and they literally had a birthday party for me, you know, so, a- and, uh, uh, I went
43:45
[00 44:22.775 – 00:44:31.315] to lots of meetings in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, uh, a bit in South Dakota, but lots in, lots in North Dakota.
43:53
[00 44:31.315 – 00:44:31.675] Mm-hmm.
43:54
[00 44:31.675 – 00:44:32.675] Awesome.
43:55
[00 44:32.675 – 00:44:42.895] D- do you have a, a, I, I traveled a lot on my job, and, uh, it's amazing the, the number of church basements
44:03
[00 44:42.895 – 00:44:49.055] we wind up wandering around in when we're traveling because we don't know where the meetings are.
44:10
[00 44:49.055 – 00:44:59.195] So, um, do you have any experiences from your traveling going to meetings when you traveled that, that stick out in your memory of, a, like the group that s-
44:21
[00 44:59.195 – 00:45:01.135] that celebrated your birthday with you?
44:23
[00 45:01.135 – 00:45:07.854] Well, uh, it was, uh, I flew into, uh, Minneapolis, and the airport's in Bloomington.
44:29
[00 45:07.854 – 00:45:15.875] And, and, uh, I, uh, always stayed in, in Bloomington at, uh, m- near the old, uh, Met Center H- Hockey arena.
44:37
[00 45:15.875 – 00:45:25.875] And, uh, I made a phone call to AA to find out where, where the meeting was, and where, it was up in Roseville or I think it's Roseville or
44:48
[00 45:25.875 – 00:45:26.915] Rosedale.
44:48
[00 45:26.915 – 00:45:32.395] Um, and I had to catch a cab, and it was in the basement of a trucking company.
44:55
[00 45:32.395 – 00:45:36.655] And, and the trucker that started the group was there that night.
44:59
[00 45:36.655 – 00:45:39.035] And, uh, that was sort of his group type thing.
45:03
[00 45:39.035 – 00:45:42.995] And, uh, he introduced himself and we became friends that night.
45:07
[00 45:42.995 – 00:45:48.915] And he said, uh, "Where, uh, where are you staying?" And I told him where I was staying in Bloomington.
45:15
[00 45:48.915 – 00:45:58.925] And he said, "Well, how are you getting there?" And I said, "Well, I'm gonna call a cab." And he said, "No you're not, you're coming with me." And we went back to the hotel and the restaurant was closed but
45:30
[00 45:58.925 – 00:46:00.915] the, the cocktail lounge was open.
45:32
[00 46:00.915 – 00:46:04.895] And, uh, they put on a pot of coffee for him and I.
45:37
[00 46:04.895 – 00:46:10.115] And they, when they closed, uh, the cocktail lounge, we were still drinking.
45:42
[00 46:10.115 – 00:46:20.425] They, he said, "The pot's still hot there, you just help yourself." He said, "And just tell the, the, the guy at the desk that, uh, to clo- close the cocktail lounge when you guys are done."
45:55
[00 46:20.435 – 00:46:26.155] And we sat, we sat there till 2:00 in the morning talking and becoming best friends.
46:01
[00 46:26.155 – 00:46:33.015] And that's the kind of friendships you get when you go to meetings in Alcoholics Anonymous.
46:07
[00 46:33.015 – 00:46:33.225] Yeah.
46:07
[00 46:33.225 – 00:46:34.275] Doesn't matter where.
46:09
[00 46:34.275 – 00:46:35.615] Yeah.
46:09
[00 46:35.615 – 00:46:36.025] Yeah.
46:10
[00 46:36.025 – 00:46:46.055] Do you have any memorable amends that you had to do that, that come to mind, either how they were accepted or how you felt, or the gift that you got
46:21
[00 46:46.055 – 00:46:47.435] from making the amends?
46:23
[00 46:47.435 – 00:46:50.855] There's a few of them, but my mother.
46:26
[00 46:50.855 – 00:46:54.435] I made amends to her almost right away.
46:29
[00 46:54.435 – 00:47:04.565] Uh, when we would, uh, come back, uh, to, uh, the Prince Albert Roundup, uh, when we were living in Saskatoon, and that would've been,
46:39
[00 47:04.565 – 00:47:08.835] uh, I was been about two and a half years sober, and we always brought our kids.
46:45
[00 47:08.835 – 00:47:19.135] And on a Sunday morning we would bring mom out to the Sunday morning breakfast, uh, that was in the Pines just north, and there would be like 1,500, 2,000
46:55
[00 47:19.135 – 00:47:20.595] people out there.
46:56
[00 47:20.595 – 00:47:30.595] And there were speakers and breakfast and, and, uh, my, my mother said to my wife, she said, "You
47:03
[00 47:30.595 – 00:47:35.295] know, Linda, I, I think Howard's gonna stay in this AA thing, you know?
47:09
[00 47:35.295 – 00:47:35.595] He's-"
47:09
[00 47:35.950 – 00:47:37.310] Like he really enjoyed it.
47:11
[00 47:37.310 – 00:47:46.870] But I never stayed at anything in my life, so she was really surprised that I would stay in AA, and she believed that I was gonna stay in.
47:22
[00 47:46.870 – 00:47:48.690] So that was a...
47:24
[00 47:48.690 – 00:47:56.850] I, I, I received the benefit of that amend some two and a half years later.
47:30
[00 47:56.850 – 00:47:58.450] Mm-hmm.
47:30
[00 47:58.450 – 00:48:07.390] So, um, is there anything that I didn't ask you about that you really enjoy talking about, about Alcoholics Anonymous?
47:38
[00 48:07.390 – 00:48:14.530] Well, I enjoy everything about Alcoholics Anonymous, but I'll tell you about another amend.
47:43
[00 48:14.530 – 00:48:15.850] Okay.
47:44
[00 48:15.850 – 00:48:23.670] Uh, it was a guy that was after my job, and normally I wouldn't have been upset, but he got it, and that upset me.
47:53
[00 48:23.670 – 00:48:28.530] And so I started talking about him behind his back, and people believed me, what I said.
47:59
[00 48:28.530 – 00:48:38.550] And anyway, I left that job, basically got fired, but, uh, uh, because of my drinking, and, uh, never had
48:06
[00 48:38.550 – 00:48:44.090] anything to do with him for what would've been a good 10 years.
48:11
[00 48:44.090 – 00:48:54.410] But when I was at one of my first meetings in Saskatoon, it was on a step nine, and they mentioned about, uh, page 551
48:20
[00 48:54.410 – 00:48:58.450] of, uh, Freedom, Freedom From Bondage.
48:22
[00 48:58.450 – 00:48:58.460] Oh, yeah, Freedom From Bondage.
48:24
[00 48:58.460 – 00:49:06.150] Where, where the gal says, "If you have a resentment you wanna be free of, if you pray for the person or thing you resent, you will be free," and it goes on like that.
48:37
[00 49:06.150 – 00:49:13.730] And this gal that was chairing the meeting pointed that out to me, because I was talking about this guy I was never gonna make an amend to, you know?
48:48
[00 49:13.730 – 00:49:20.230] And, uh, so I started praying for him, all the good things I wanted for myself to be given to him.
48:55
[00 49:20.230 – 00:49:25.610] And then one day he showed up in my place of employment unannounced.
49:00
[00 49:25.610 – 00:49:29.790] D- we didn't know each other were gonna be there, but he was there.
49:06
[00 49:29.790 – 00:49:36.250] And I asked if he'd li- if I could take him for lunch, and he was happy to see me, 'cause he didn't know I'd done these things.
49:16
[00 49:36.250 – 00:49:37.170] Ooh.
49:17
[00 49:37.170 – 00:49:38.390] Mm-hmm.
49:17
[00 49:38.390 – 00:49:44.390] And I told him over lunch what I'd done, and he said, "It's water under the bridge." Mm-hmm.
49:24
[00 49:44.390 – 00:49:46.450] And since then, I've...
49:26
[00 49:46.450 – 00:49:52.870] We've met, oh, a half a dozen occasions since, and we're still friends, you know?
49:31
[00 49:52.870 – 00:49:59.930] And then we always will be now because of, of that situation, of how I learned to make the amend.
49:39
[00 49:59.930 – 00:50:00.450] Mm-hmm.
49:39
[00 50:00.450 – 00:50:02.590] That's wonderful.
49:40
[00 50:02.590 – 00:50:09.010] So, um, I know that we wanna wind up, because you have, um, a couple of guys to pick up.
49:48
[00 50:09.010 – 00:50:13.290] So the last question I'm gonna ask you is about these couple of guys that you're gonna pick up.
49:55
[00 50:13.290 – 00:50:15.530] So I know you're still doing 12 step work.
49:58
[00 50:15.530 – 00:50:19.470] We talked about it a little bit when I talked to you earlier offline.
50:03
[00 50:19.470 – 00:50:27.190] And so how did you wind up with these two guys that you're headed right out from this meeting to pick 'em up and get to a meeting?
50:13
[00 50:27.190 – 00:50:36.590] How did you wind up with these two guys, and who else have you worked with from this group, and, um, what's the, what's your connection there?
50:23
[00 50:36.590 – 00:50:47.270] Well, Garnet, my sponsor, uh, he's been working with, uh, different Hutterite colonies throughout the province, and there's been a lot of alcoholism,
50:31
[00 50:47.270 – 00:50:49.330] and they've been asking for help.
50:34
[00 50:49.330 – 00:50:56.190] And Garnet's been there, and he passed on these two guys w- at a colony just south of town here.
50:41
[00 50:56.190 – 00:51:05.570] And, uh, so we got together, uh, for a chat on, on the phone and, and, uh, then we met for a coffee.
50:50
[00 51:05.570 – 00:51:11.910] And these two fellows are going to me- gonna be going to meetings, and they're happy to be doing it.
50:57
[00 51:11.910 – 00:51:16.010] So, um, there's...
50:58
[00 51:16.010 – 00:51:19.470] I don't know how many people I've brought to meetings now over the years.
51:04
[00 51:19.470 – 00:51:22.250] Uh, it's quite a few, there's no doubt about that.
51:08
[00 51:22.250 – 00:51:32.370] But, uh, right now, uh, these two and a few others, newcomers in the group that are within their first year, that are doing really, really
51:17
[00 51:32.370 – 00:51:33.970] well in the program, you know?
51:19
[00 51:33.970 – 00:51:40.070] And there's nothing more pleasing than to see that person grow.
51:24
[00 51:40.070 – 00:51:50.610] And there's a little gal who had a lot of trauma in her life, a lot of trauma, and she's just a wonderful little gal,
51:33
[00 51:50.610 – 00:51:55.949] and when she talks, she talks like a little girl, and because of the trauma.
51:38
[00 51:55.949 – 00:52:06.110] And I watched her come along, in that first few months she was obstinate and hated being there, and then she
51:46
[00 52:06.110 – 00:52:11.490] found a God or she understood God, and you could see the change.
51:51
[00 52:11.490 – 00:52:17.850] And today she is an absolute pleasure to be around and be with, you know?
51:57
[00 52:17.850 – 00:52:21.510] And, and to watch that kid grow is just, oh, it's...
52:01
[00 52:21.510 – 00:52:24.570] That's what AA is all about.
52:03
[00 52:24.570 – 00:52:28.270] That's what life is all about, is watching those stuff, you know?
52:08
[00 52:28.270 – 00:52:29.130] Yeah.
52:08
[00 52:29.130 – 00:52:34.250] Well, Garnet, I'm gonna let you go.
52:11
[00 52:34.250 – 00:52:39.750] We're gonna end a little bit early so that you can get out and, uh, pick those guys up and get 'em to a meeting.
52:20
[00 52:39.750 – 00:52:42.190] What's the format of the meeting this evening?
52:24
[00 52:42.190 – 00:52:45.450] Which, are, are, my meeting?
52:26
[00 52:45.450 – 00:52:46.550] Yeah, the meeting- Oh ...
52:27
[00 52:46.550 – 00:52:47.469] that you're taking them to.
52:29
[00 52:47.469 – 00:52:49.790] It's, it's a big book study.
52:32
[00 52:49.790 – 00:52:51.090] Okay.
52:33
[00 52:51.090 – 00:52:55.550] And we did s- pages 30 and 31 last week.
52:36
[00 52:55.550 – 00:52:58.830] Oh, s- so you're right in chapter three.
52:39
[00 52:58.830 – 00:53:00.890] Oh, yes.
52:40
[00 53:00.890 – 00:53:02.650] It's so perfect for these new guys.
52:43
[00 53:02.650 – 00:53:06.650] Perfect.
52:43
[00 53:06.650 – 00:53:12.210] Well, Howard, thank you so much for being willing to come on and, and do this this evening.
52:50
[00 53:12.210 – 00:53:15.490] And, uh, thank you to everybody who was here.
52:54
[00 53:15.490 – 00:53:21.130] Um, we will, uh, ask you to unmute in a second to thank, uh, thank Howard for us.
53:00
[00 53:21.130 – 00:53:26.130] Um, next month we're gonna be talking with Ed C.
53:04
[00 53:26.130 – 00:53:36.130] From Oceanside, New York, and, um, and got sober in July of 1970.
53:09
[00 53:36.130 – 00:53:39.250] I think that Tim has put a flyer in the chat.
53:13
[00 53:39.250 – 00:53:45.150] I've also put a flyer in the chat for the, uh, Sunday long-timer speaker meeting.
53:19
[00 53:45.150 – 00:53:55.750] All of our speakers are 40 or more years sober, and, and, uh, we meet on Sunday afternoon on the, uh, Eastern Time and Sunday morning,
53:28
[00 53:55.750 – 00:53:57.530] uh, Pacific Coast and Hawaii.
53:30
[00 53:57.530 – 00:54:01.090] And, um, so thank you for being here.
53:33
[00 54:01.090 – 00:54:06.950] We will be back the, uh, end of August with a new, with a new conversation.
53:39
[00 54:06.950 – 00:54:08.710] So Howard, thank you very much.
53:41
[00 54:08.710 – 00:54:16.150] And if you all want to unmute and, um, thank Howard for, uh, his share this evening, we appreciate that.
53:49
[00 54:16.150 – 00:54:18.330] Thank you, Howard.
53:50
[00 54:18.330 – 00:54:19.290] Thank you.
53:51
[00 54:19.290 – 00:54:19.700] Thanks, Howard.
53:52
[00 54:19.700 – 00:54:19.700] Thank you.
53:53
[00 54:19.700 – 00:54:21.180] Thanks so much, Howard.
53:55
[00 54:21.180 – 00:54:22.370] Thank you, Howard.
53:56
[00 54:22.370 – 00:54:23.469] All I can say is you're very welcome.
The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

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