Whoo! You light up my life. Oh, yes, you gave me hope when I didn’t know there was any hope for me. Thank God for each one of you. I just love you. My name is Liz Bailey. My anonymity is shot to hell for a very long time. I’m the most definite alcoholic you ever could lay your eyes on, and a very grateful alcoholic. Amen. Oh, hi, everyone. I feel so honored and privileged to be asked to come to Tampa. I’m privileged to go anywhere at 73, believe me. But it, it has been a terrific honor, and I wanna thank the committee, and Mike, and Christie, and, um, I can’t start naming names because you guys follow me. Sober, thank God. Drunk you wouldn’t have followed me around the corner. But thank God you’ve been following me. Dolly and all of you, it’s just wonderful to be with you. And, uh, I haven’t gone out and gotten anybody a new story, ’cause the one I got here with was a Lulu. And nobody’s told me it’s gotten better out there, and I believe you.

If you can make it back here, I welcome you back. But again, I’m gonna have the same story, and would you all timers and all of you pray that I reach somebody here tonight? ‘Cause that’s my primary purpose, is to stay sober, and that’s why I hit the road, and the planes, and the trains, and the buses, and the subways, because I wanna reach someone to come into this beautiful fellowship. And we don’t promote AA. We don’t promote it at all. We attract you. And I love it when you all said, “I want what you’ve got, Liz.” Oh my God, ain’t nobody ever said that to me, you know? And when nowadays you’re telling me, “Oh, I want what you’ve got,” and I said, “Well, I got it in AA, and I keep it in AA.” Thanks to John and Beverly for being here with me again, and they’re part of my life. John has been in my life for 30 years, and he’s still with me. And that’s another nice thing about AA, you get lasting friendships. It’s so beautiful, so beautiful.

Now, there was a preacher preaching, and he says, “If you drink…” Oh, I want to thank Jimmy and Mike for coming to the airport, getting me yesterday, and I’m gonna tell you something real cute. They was there with my name up, and I went over and I kissed Mike. “Hi, Mike.” Then I went over and kissed Jimmy. “Hi, Jimmy.” And there was another little fellow standing there, and I said, “Are you with this crowd?” He said, “No, but I’ll take a hug.” So I hugged him, you know? So I got them all out the way. Right? Yeah. So if you’re near me, you’re gonna get it. You’re gonna get it. This minister was preaching, and my minister friend is with me this weekend again. We’ve been privileged to be together quite a few times, thank God. A couple of you here this weekend have been with me before, and I’ve been with you. Bless your heart.