Well, uh, uh, first of all, I’ve got a couple of things that I need to do. Uh, by the way, I, I, I don’t– I noticed some of these speakers that spoke before me, they kind of jerk every once in a while, and the problem is, it’s an honest problem. Now, you see people coming in like this, and- .. nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with that. But the problem is, there’s a mirror back there, and you see them come in the door first, and then you gotta see if it’s the re- same people, you know? And, uh, it kind of gets confusing, huh? Particularly when the same people don’t come through, huh? Uh, I, I wanna thank the committee and the people involved in getting me up here, and you know who you are. Um, uh, you got a good deal here. And I’ve been to a lot of them, but this is one of the best I’ve been to. I want you to know that. I was, uh, down at, uh- .. uh, at, at Del Mar years ago, and I must have made a hell of an impression. You just got me back up here and, uh- ..

uh, it, it’s good to be here and be with you. And, and I wanna thank the committee for letting Julie and I.. Julie, stand up. This is my wife, Julie. Uh, it’s good to be here. And, and by the way, I wanna thank the committee for letting me get up here this morning without all this stuff you go through, um. Uh, it ra- it’s always appropriate when you’re a Sunday morning speaker. You know, I’ve heard years ago they prefer the Sunday morning speaker to clean up the mess. And, uh, it, it ain’t no mess here, I’ll tell you. And, uh, I, I know most of them and, and, and I thank God for all of them, and they did a wonderful job. And, um, but they tell me years ago, back in my home state, they had a convention and, and, and a fella was kind of long-winded. He got up on a Sunday morning and started talking. The first hour, he talked about twelve steps. The second hour, he got into twelve traditions. The third hour, he got into three legacies. People began to leave. They will leave.

I found it out one night, and, um- Sure enough, uh, everybody left but one man sitting on the front row. And the man got concerned that was speaking. He ran down from the podium when he got through, grabbed the man by the hand, said, “I want to ask you one question. Everybody left but you. Why’d you stay?” He said, “Hell, I’m the next speaker.” Well- You kind of know how I feel, don’t you? Uh.. And the other thing I want to say is this, uh, Bud and Dee, I had no idea they’d be here this weekend. Now, Bud is one of the two living members in Alcoholics Anonymous saw me when I was stark raving and sober. And because I came into A, A in Roanoke, Virginia back in ’57. I’m an alcoholic and my name is Dave Cook. Hi, everybody. Hi, Dave. By God’s grace, and because this program worked for me, and through the help of some understanding sponsors who have led me with a kind but firm hand, through the love, uh, well, of a loving wife that I had for many years- Wow ..