Transcript

[00:00.5 – 00:02.1] I'm sorry I can't see you. [00:02.1 – 00:06.2] I had a stroke in '79. [00:06.2 – 00:10.0] I paid the price of losing my eyesight. [00:10.0 – 00:17.6] These are dark glasses, I'm sure. [00:17.6 – 00:25.2] And the reason I removed them, I want to show some of the widows how handsome I am. [00:25.2 – 00:37.0] That's [00:37.0 – 00:37.9] AA talk. [00:37.9 – 00:41.6] Don't blow your own horn. [00:41.6 – 00:52.0] I'm very grateful to people who thought to bring me here, and also grateful [00:52.0 – 01:02.1] for the ones that brought me here today, Bill, and, uh, he had a honor guard with him, uh, two [01:02.1 – 01:04.1] women- … [01:04.1 – 01:04.8] to, to guard me. [01:04.8 – 01:09.4] Anyway, I'm very grateful for that. [01:09.4 – 01:14.6] And, uh, my name is Charlie B. [01:14.6 – 01:21.7] Last name I'm not supposed to say, but I will. [01:21.7 – 01:26.8] I'm not ashamed of it anymore, nor afraid of anonymity. [01:26.8 – 01:31.2] My full name is Charlie John Brockwell. [01:31.2 – 01:38.3] Yeah, it's a hell of an English name to hang on an Irishman. [01:38.3 – 01:48.3] And by the grace of God, I am [01:48.3 – 01:53.1] sober alcoholic for many light years ago. [01:53.1 – 01:55.7] Hi, Charlie. [01:55.7 – 01:57.8] Good afternoon, my dear friend. [01:57.8 – 02:01.1] And please bear with me. [02:01.1 – 02:03.9] I, um… [02:03.9 – 02:14.0] Someone said, uh, that, uh, I was, uh, sober 48 years, which is true, and [02:14.0 – 02:15.8] they didn't think I was old enough. [02:15.8 – 02:26.4] Well, it depends how they look at it, but last September 25th, I chalked up [02:26.4 – 02:29.0] to my lifespan. [02:29.0 – 02:32.4] Today, I am 92. [02:32.4 – 02:42.7] Now, don't [02:42.7 – 02:44.6] worry, widows, I'm self-supporting. [02:44.6 – 02:54.8] In spite of my blindness, and of course, another one you should know, because if you don't, you'll find out when we get together, [02:54.8 – 02:57.0] I have a broken hip, too. [02:57.0 – 03:00.7] Outside of that, I'm sound. [03:00.7 – 03:08.5] Well, uh, I love to hear people laugh. [03:08.5 – 03:18.6] You see, I don't give out drunkologues, but I'd give you something, a little bit in the book, which I [03:18.6 – 03:25.1] had a honor and guidance of my higher power to write in the big book. [03:25.1 – 03:28.7] And some of it is not in the big book as yet. [03:28.7 – 03:31.1] I'm gonna pass it on to you. [03:31.1 – 03:39.8] How to live a happy, sober, and permanent life. [03:39.8 – 03:43.2] I'm as an example. [03:43.2 – 03:55.3] Now, if anybody having trouble living a sobriety, why, [03:55.3 – 04:02.4] uh, all you have to do, as my suggestion, come up to Charlie and ask me how I did it. [04:02.4 – 04:08.6] How did I stay sober 48 years uninterrupted, huh? [04:08.6 – 04:12.9] And I'm be only too glad to tell you how I done it. [04:12.9 – 04:23.0] But you'll find my written down on the first page of big book after you turn [04:23.0 – 04:25.1] the first hardcover. [04:25.1 – 04:34.1] Well, we put down there, on these pages, we put down precisely how we achieved our recovery. [04:34.1 – 04:37.0] It's in that book. [04:37.0 – 04:39.5] Precisely. [04:39.5 – 04:40.5] Word it precisely. [04:40.5 – 04:50.8] So you can follow, like, uh, also, we wrote on the very top line in the portion chapter [04:50.8 – 04:56.4] five, what has been read here a little while ago, how it works. [04:56.4 – 05:02.0] Rarely have we seen a person fail who has fully followed our path. [05:02.0 – 05:04.4] Just follow Charlie's footsteps. [05:04.4 – 05:05.6] You'll never go wrong. [05:05.6 – 05:12.0] And you will live to 92 and over 40 years of sobriety by the time you get there. [05:12.0 – 05:13.6] Yeah. [05:13.6 – 05:18.2] I think I'm a pretty fair example, a living example. [05:18.2 – 05:22.1] There's no maybe, no maybe about it. [05:22.1 – 05:32.2] See, my friends, what I lived through, you will have to live through to achieve not [05:32.2 – 05:34.9] only sobriety, but a happy daily life. [05:34.9 – 05:44.4] You see, you'll, you'll have to get out a state of confusion, which you are in right now, most of you. [05:44.4 – 05:54.4] When I had eyesight, and I spoke in many places, I used to [05:54.4 – 06:04.4] watch the expression on your faces, and I can almost tell whether you liked my talk or you'd wish [06:04.4 – 06:05.1] I'd shut up. [06:05.1 – 06:08.1] You see? [06:08.1 – 06:19.8] So when you're around the table at the meeting, I suggest you will learn something by watching the person across the table from you, whether [06:19.8 – 06:29.9] it's cussing or drunk a log or whatever the case may be under discussion at that particular meeting, and you will learn more than you can realize. [06:29.9 – 06:31.4] Oh, yes. [06:31.4 – 06:35.7] Expression on a person's face is just like a mirror. [06:35.7 – 06:39.0] Excuse me. [06:39.0 – 06:41.1] Yes. [06:41.1 – 06:48.4] Now, um, you see, I'm a little bit different from most of you people. [06:48.4 – 06:58.6] In every way except one way I have something in common: I have [06:58.6 – 07:02.4] a disease of alcoholism, and that's it. [07:02.4 – 07:06.1] That's the only thing. [07:06.1 – 07:15.0] You see, you're, I call you Earth people because you were born on Earth. [07:15.0 – 07:16.2] I wasn't. [07:16.2 – 07:18.6] You see the difference? [07:18.6 – 07:22.0] I wasn't born on Earth. [07:22.0 – 07:26.3] I came on this planet, but I was born on the water. [07:26.3 – 07:33.2] Yeah, on the edge of a tornado in Atlantic Ocean. [07:33.2 – 07:35.2] Yeah. [07:35.2 – 07:45.3] But they did bring me on to Earth at the Brooklyn [07:45.3 – 07:55.4] Hospital, and the one mistake they made, I think, they, they, uh, put the card of identification and [07:55.4 – 07:57.8] called me the, uh, Atlantic Orphan. [07:57.8 – 08:02.2] By rights, I think it'd be better off they called me Water Boy. [08:02.2 – 08:06.2] Yes, my friends. [08:06.2 – 08:16.2] My mother fell down the stairway, the rough hurricane weather, but the ship was anchored within [08:16.2 – 08:24.3] a three-mile limit of the United States, opposite Ellis Island, which is known as quarantine anchorage. [08:24.3 – 08:29.7] And she lost her grip coming down the stairway. [08:29.7 – 08:37.8] By the time she got down to the bottom deck, her back was broken, and I was born, and she died. [08:37.8 – 08:44.2] The difference is I never had a home environment. [08:44.2 – 08:48.4] I didn't have the opportunity, chance to sit on mother's lap. [08:48.4 – 08:51.1] No. [08:51.1 – 08:56.5] Incidentally, some of you wonder, wonder what happened to father. [08:56.5 – 09:05.4] Yes, my father was in the Navy, stationed at that time aboard his ship, USS Maine, in Guantanamo Bay. [09:05.4 – 09:13.5] And real shortly after that, I don't know whether he knew he had a son or not, but he was… [09:13.5 – 09:15.4] The ship was dynamited. [09:15.4 – 09:23.0] The history will tell you, remember the Maine, and he went down with all hands aboard with his ship. [09:23.0 – 09:28.1] So now you see the difference between me and you? [09:28.1 – 09:32.0] I didn't enjoy home environment. [09:32.0 – 09:33.9] I never had a home. [09:33.9 – 09:35.7] Oh, yeah. [09:35.7 – 09:45.9] New York State provi- provided me with New York State Orphan Asylum, just outside of Brooklyn, about 40 miles, [09:45.9 – 09:50.0] until I was 12. [09:50.0 – 09:55.6] Then I decided to go and take off and see the world, and I did. [09:55.6 – 10:00.1] You know, I've been gone ever since, and they hadn't found me yet. [10:00.1 – 10:04.5] Ain't that wonderful, huh? [10:04.5 – 10:12.0] A little bit of humor. [10:12.0 – 10:14.0] I'm, I'm full of that, thank God. [10:14.0 – 10:17.7] Humor, I mean. [10:17.7 – 10:23.1] I don't mean BS. [10:23.1 – 10:26.3] I, uh, I mean, I don't mean beautiful sunshine, stuff like that, you know. [10:26.3 – 10:36.7] Well, anyway, uh, I ran across a boarding house with an Irish widow run a boarding house, and she befriended [10:36.7 – 10:37.0] me. [10:37.0 – 10:44.5] And I stayed with her until I was almost 17. [10:44.5 – 10:51.7] And then I joined the Navy, and that's where another career was started. [10:51.7 – 10:58.3] That's another story, a long one, too, with a lot of wars involved in that. [10:58.3 – 11:08.5] And, uh, after they brought me from the, uh, from that ship I was born, [11:08.5 – 11:16.2] why, when they, uh, I became Earth man, I also became an alcoholic later, later on. [11:16.2 – 11:26.1] But, uh, during the World War II, I learned a lot about alcohol because I had to use it, not internally, but in torpedoes. [11:26.1 – 11:27.0] That was our power. [11:27.0 – 11:33.2] Yeah, we, we used grain alcohol to propel torpedoes during the World War I. [11:33.2 – 11:39.1] That's, uh, that's a little, uh, novelty for you to know. [11:39.1 – 11:44.4] Of course, they'd, uh, we had no electronics, uh, wizards in those days. [11:44.4 – 11:54.4] But nevertheless, I was, uh, I suppose if I fell overboard, I'd, I'd propel by, [11:54.4 – 11:55.8] uh, like a torpedo, too. [11:55.8 – 11:58.0] I was so full myself. [11:58.0 – 12:03.9] I was a, I was a gin lover. [12:03.9 – 12:10.0] A, a, a gin hound, I should say, and a lover of rum. [12:10.0 – 12:15.9] Now, I've heard so many drunkologues at different meetings. [12:15.9 – 12:19.4] You know, I attended quite a few meetings in these forty-eight years. [12:19.4 – 12:20.9] Don't you think? [12:20.9 – 12:23.0] Oh, yeah. [12:23.0 – 12:31.3] Why, uh, my favorite drink was I took– I never used a whiskey glass, nor drink out a bottle. [12:31.3 – 12:36.4] I used these pot-bellied water glasses that they used to have in the restaurants. [12:36.4 – 12:41.1] I'd put four fingers of gin in the glass. [12:41.1 – 12:47.8] In the meantime, I'd warm up, in a saucepan, a mug full of hot rum. [12:47.8 – 12:52.6] I'd throw that in and wash it down with a mug full of hot rum on top. [12:52.6 – 12:58.3] Then I'd stand in front of the mirror and watch the color change in my face. [12:58.3 – 13:08.4] And then I'd gasp for breath, and then wonder, "Will I ever breathe again?" [13:10.8 – 13:11.3] I did. [13:11.3 – 13:13.8] Oh, yeah, I did. [13:13.8 – 13:16.3] Well, that's enough of that. [13:16.3 – 13:26.4] Now, uh, you see, my friends, I'm the last remaining living pioneer [13:26.4 – 13:31.4] who helped lay the foundation of AA program. [13:31.4 – 13:33.8] Yes. [13:33.8 – 13:37.8] I happened to be in the right place and come in the right time. [13:37.8 – 13:45.4] And, uh, there were five others, and they put me to work right away. [13:45.4 – 13:54.9] And, uh, I, uh, I met Bill W. [13:54.9 – 13:58.6] You see, I'm a native of Brooklyn, New York. [13:58.6 – 14:01.8] And so was Bill W. [14:01.8 – 14:04.5] lived in Brooklyn at that particular time. [14:04.5 – 14:14.7] And Lois', uh, folks' home that they left for her after they passed away, which [14:14.7 – 14:24.5] Bill politely, uh, mortgaged, overmortgaged it and drunk it up. [14:24.5 – 14:26.1] That's why they lost that home. [14:26.1 – 14:28.6] But that's another story. [14:28.6 – 14:39.0] When Bill returned from Akron, Ohio, in, uh, late August of nineteen thirty-five, [14:39.0 – 14:41.5] from Dr. [14:41.5 – 14:51.8] Bob, well, a few days later, I suppose, anyway, I picked up a Brooklyn paper, [14:51.8 – 14:55.6] and inside the paper was a discovery news. [14:55.6 – 15:06.0] Bill had his picture in there and, uh, write-up about that him and a famous, a famous, uh, or well-known, uh, [15:06.0 – 15:16.4] Wall Street financier and broker and promoter and a famous, uh, uh, Akron City Hospital [15:16.4 – 15:26.9] surgeon of Akron, Ohio, have discovered a cure for excessive alcoholism for those who, uh, [15:26.9 – 15:28.1] drink to excess. [15:28.1 – 15:38.2] Well, that word cure got me curious because by that time, I was already [15:38.2 – 15:41.3] sober by myself twenty-two months. [15:41.3 – 15:44.6] How did I get sober? [15:44.6 – 15:50.8] Well, I would have to go back for, uh, briefly. [15:50.8 – 15:54.0] I have to take you back to nineteen thirty-three. [15:54.0 – 16:04.1] It was, uh, uh, when New Year came around, and of course, in the yard and [16:04.1 – 16:14.2] offices, we all had, uh, bottles of sorts, all sorts of, uh, alcohol, all kind of brands and colors and, [16:14.2 – 16:17.7] and, uh, taste. [16:17.7 – 16:22.7] We called it Christmas cheer, just a week before Christmas. [16:22.7 – 16:33.0] So everybody went around the yard with a quart bottle in their coat pocket, uh, giving Christmas cheer whoever [16:33.0 – 16:33.5] he meets. [16:33.5 – 16:36.2] So they usually stop at my office. [16:36.2 – 16:38.5] They gave me Christmas cheer, and I gave them out mine. [16:38.5 – 16:41.3] I had bottles on my desk. [16:41.3 – 16:43.5] They helped themselves. [16:43.5 – 16:53.6] Well, to make a long story short, I took on a little more Christmas cheer than I intended to because I don't remember nineteen thirty-three [16:53.6 – 16:58.6] Christmas coming and nineteen thirty-three Christmas gone. [16:58.6 – 17:01.5] I don't remember nineteen thirty-four New Year coming. [17:01.5 – 17:04.4] I don't re- don't remember it gone. [17:04.4 – 17:06.1] It started with Christmas cheer. [17:06.1 – 17:13.0] Well, now, uh, I don't know whether you call that an alcoholic or not. [17:13.0 – 17:14.4] I don't know what you call it. [17:14.4 – 17:16.7] But anyway, that's what happened. [17:16.7 – 17:28.8] Until the, uh, first part of the, uh, first part of the, uh, January, [17:28.8 – 17:33.6] I heard the rap in thirty-four. [17:33.6 – 17:40.3] I heard the rap on the, uh, door, and I answered, "It's open. [17:40.3 – 17:46.3] Come in." And a great big marine, six foot two, with armband. [17:46.3 – 17:52.2] Uh, MP, I mean, military police. [17:52.2 – 18:02.0] And he addressed me by my name, says, "I'm ordered to escort you to the, to the CO's office." Uh-oh. [18:02.0 – 18:04.7] Commanding officer's office. [18:04.7 – 18:08.1] And that was in my skivvies. [18:08.1 – 18:12.5] So he said, "Will you please get dressed?" I said, "Yes, sir." I got dressed. [18:12.5 – 18:22.6] He says, "Am I under arrest?" He says, "Not yet." So I came down there, and the old [18:22.6 – 18:26.5] Captain King was CO at that time. [18:26.5 – 18:29.5] Later, during the World War II, became admiral. [18:29.5 – 18:34.1] And, uh, we all advanced during World War II. [18:34.1 – 18:41.1] And, uh, his fa- his face, it looked worse than mine. [18:41.1 – 18:44.7] He was bloated like a spoiled fish. [18:44.7 – 18:50.0] Eyes were bloodshot, you know, and he was a mean-looking specimen. [18:50.0 – 18:53.4] And he pointed his finger at me. [18:53.4 – 18:53.9] He says, "Mr. [18:53.9 – 19:04.2] Brockwell, unless at this very moment you stop that infernal consumption of alcohol, I [19:04.2 – 19:09.7] will be compelled to issue you dishonorable discharge as undesirable. [19:09.7 – 19:11.4] Dismissed. [19:11.4 – 19:15.8] Oh, by the way, ten days on beach without pay." [19:17.6 – 19:18.3] Get out of here. [19:18.3 – 19:22.5] Didn't give me a chance to ask why, what for, anything. [19:22.5 – 19:27.9] And you can't argue with CO or ask questions. [19:27.9 – 19:33.7] On the way home, I thought, "My God, what did I walk into? [19:33.7 – 19:35.8] What had I done?" I couldn't remember. [19:35.8 – 19:43.9] Well, I must have done something severe with a, threatened with a dishonorable discharge as undesirable. [19:43.9 – 19:51.1] I'd lose my country, and above all, I'd lose twenty-eight years of continued service and a rank. [19:51.1 – 19:58.1] Two more years I had to go to be eligi- eligible for retirement. [19:58.1 – 20:03.1] In those days, you got to serve thirty years in the Navy to be retired. [20:03.1 – 20:06.1] Not like nowadays. [20:06.1 – 20:16.7] So I went home, and four days later, I was called back to duty, and [20:16.7 – 20:22.4] I re- started working and I was running scared. [20:22.4 – 20:23.3] I was sober. [20:23.3 – 20:25.1] I didn't drink. [20:25.1 – 20:36.0] And when doctor, when I, uh, Bill asked me how did I stay sober, I told him, "Well, I dissociated my acquaintances. [20:36.0 – 20:39.8] I stayed away from all of them, my drinking companions. [20:39.8 – 20:41.4] I stopped bowling. [20:41.4 – 20:42.9] I stopped playing poker. [20:42.9 – 20:45.1] I stopped playing billiards. [20:45.1 – 20:52.4] I stayed away from officers club, and I stayed away from all the social, uh, function that was going on. [20:52.4 – 21:02.6] And when the holidays come around, like Christmas and New Year or Thanksgiving, I'd, uh, put on civilian clothes and get on a train and go to some other state, [21:02.6 – 21:07.8] check in a nice hotel where they have a dining facilities, but no saloon. [21:07.8 – 21:19.5] And I'd, uh, while staying in there during the holidays, I'd take in the best theaters in town, go to the museums, parks, [21:19.5 – 21:21.4] different places of interest. [21:21.4 – 21:28.4] And after a hard day, I returned back to Brooklyn, sober and sane. [21:28.4 – 21:32.4] That's how I sta- started to stay sober from beginning. [21:32.4 – 21:33.7] See? [21:33.7 – 21:38.9] Dissociate yourself from all the drinking cronies. [21:38.9 – 21:44.9] When, uh, Bill told me, "I can't do nothing for you," I told him, "Yeah, but I'm, I'm miserable. [21:44.9 – 21:55.9] I'm running scared, uh, for fear that somebody, uh, uh, misinforms CO or, and [21:55.9 – 21:58.0] I will get that dishonorable discharge. [21:58.0 – 22:08.0] Somebody will say, tell a lie that they smell breath on me or they smell alcohol on my breath or something." So, uh, so Bill strongly advised [22:08.0 – 22:08.6] me, "Go see Dr. [22:08.6 – 22:10.5] Bob in Akron, Ohio. [22:10.5 – 22:13.2] He's the only man can help you. [22:13.2 – 22:13.9] I can't help you. [22:13.9 – 22:15.5] If you was drunk," he says, "I could help. [22:15.5 – 22:25.9] I can take you home and give you a clean, um, sh- uh, shirt and stuff and bath and feed you good and, [22:25.9 – 22:28.5] and a good place to sleep," but he said, "You're sober. [22:28.5 – 22:34.2] I can't help you." So Bill couldn't help me, but he, he painted Dr., Dr. [22:34.2 – 22:44.9] Bob so highly that I decided, "Well, I'll go see that man." So, uh, [22:44.9 – 22:54.2] and that's in late August and la- early September, I finally took leave of absence and went to Akron, Ohio. [22:54.2 – 22:55.4] Uh, I met Dr. [22:55.4 – 22:56.1] Bob. [22:56.1 – 23:06.4] He told me that I acquired a disease, no cure for it, and he also told me what to do, [23:06.4 – 23:08.8] what not to do. [23:08.8 – 23:16.8] To make a long story short, he took all my fear away from me by explaining the situation. [23:16.8 – 23:19.8] As the only doctor, only he knew. [23:19.8 – 23:29.9] And, uh, I stayed, uh, three days at his home with Annie and his two children, a boy and a girl, names [23:29.9 – 23:31.0] Missy and Sue. [23:31.0 – 23:40.2] And, uh, well, after three days, um… [23:40.2 – 23:47.8] Oh yeah, Bill Dodson was, uh, to the third man in the book, Akron attorney that sobered up, third man in the book. [23:47.8 – 23:49.7] They were together. [23:49.7 – 23:58.9] Now, uh, I don't think that some of you alcoholics would accept AA on the condition Dr. [23:58.9 – 24:02.1] Bob designed from the start. [24:02.1 – 24:03.5] Dr. [24:03.5 – 24:13.6] Bob had ac- very good access to all alcoholics because they come to a hospital after a hangover, whatever they happen to have, [24:13.6 – 24:14.8] blackouts and such. [24:14.8 – 24:16.5] So Dr. [24:16.5 – 24:24.9] Bob used to have pay for room and board, but he didn't charge them anything for, uh, for his work. [24:24.9 – 24:32.2] Well, anyway, he had a better access than anyone else, and he had a better success, too. [24:32.2 – 24:40.4] But after he sobers up an alcoholic, he brings them home, and, uh, him, Dr. [24:40.4 – 24:48.5] Bob, and Bill Dodson, uh, the third man in the book, the attorney, they'd have a special room upstairs. [24:48.5 – 24:59.9] They'd take him in, uh, in that room, which, uh, they invited me to be as the, uh, innocent observer, so to speak, and [24:59.9 – 25:02.3] the, the ritual, they had a ritual there. [25:02.3 – 25:09.8] They'd make this fellow get down on the, on his knees and repeat the Lord's Prayer that Dr. [25:09.8 – 25:17.5] Bob and Bill would say, and they had told him to repeat it in unison. [25:17.5 – 25:22.7] So, uh, if he don't, then he's not accepted. [25:22.7 – 25:33.0] But if he does, repeat that, and promise that he'll go to the, to the church school, AA meetings three times a week. [25:33.0 – 25:40.2] We had no book, you know, in those days then. [25:40.2 – 25:44.6] We hadn't even started to write it yet, in '35. [25:44.6 – 25:49.4] How lucky you people are, only don't realize it. [25:49.4 – 25:53.9] You've got all kinds of books on the, on the, on the subject of alcoholism. [25:53.9 – 25:57.0] You got a big book of Alcoholic Anonymous. [25:57.0 – 26:02.7] Has everything, all the directions and instruction written right in there because I helped to write it. [26:02.7 – 26:09.2] And you people just, I don't know if you even, uh, flip the pages. [26:09.2 – 26:17.4] Some, some of the people I know, by their own admittance, it's laying somewhere on a shelf gathering dust and cobwebs. [26:17.4 – 26:23.0] Now that's not that, that's not, that book is not put out for that purpose. [26:23.0 – 26:25.0] It's to read. [26:25.0 – 26:35.0] How many times have I heard at the, at these AA meetings around the table in discussion, and some [26:35.0 – 26:38.6] joker will say, "Oh, I haven't got no drinking problem anymore. [26:38.6 – 26:44.1] It's living problem that I have." How in the world did they live when they were drinking, huh? [26:44.1 – 26:47.1] They didn't live, they existed. [26:47.1 – 26:50.1] You know, and I know. [26:50.1 – 26:56.4] Living problem, what a joke. [26:56.4 – 27:01.6] I don't see how in the world they get enough nerve to come out and say that. [27:01.6 – 27:05.0] They got a big book with all instructions. [27:05.0 – 27:08.8] And besides, let me remind you of something you have. [27:08.8 – 27:15.2] As full of, full of, uh, pearls of wisdom is those pamphlets. [27:15.2 – 27:16.8] They're for free. [27:16.8 – 27:22.1] That's where wisdom is, in those pamphlets. [27:22.1 – 27:28.6] Look them over, take them home, and read them, and reread them. [27:28.6 – 27:35.0] And someday you'll say, "Charlie was right." I know. [27:35.0 – 27:38.0] I helped with all those things. [27:38.0 – 27:48.7] Besides laying the foundation for, for the, uh, program, I helped clean that [27:48.7 – 27:52.4] path for alcoholics to walk on. [27:52.4 – 27:58.4] And then bes- I d- Well, I did more. [27:58.4 – 28:08.7] After that path was completed, I went around and put little plaques on the right-hand side all along that pla- uh, uh, path, [28:08.7 – 28:15.0] with a plaque, with a little arrow pointing forward path. [28:15.0 – 28:35.1] And I put a inscription on those plaques: "This is a path leads to faith that works." That [28:35.1 – 28:35.7] path. [28:35.7 – 28:39.2] Now stay on it. [28:39.2 – 28:42.6] See? [28:42.6 – 28:52.8] And then you'll find something you never dreamed of: a happiness, a [28:52.8 – 28:53.3] faith. [28:53.3 – 28:56.9] Faith consists of trust. [28:56.9 – 29:00.5] Faith is trust. [29:00.5 – 29:06.1] Now, in the chap… [29:06.1 – 29:16.5] in the, in the, in the steps, for example, in the third step, we admitted, uh, we d- uh, the, um, [29:16.5 – 29:24.3] made a decision to turn our will and our life over to the care of God as understand Him, as we understand Him. [29:24.3 – 29:30.5] All you have to do just step aside, let Him go ahead. [29:30.5 – 29:31.7] You ain't got no will. [29:31.7 – 29:38.9] You just give it away, and just be a follower instead of a pusher. [29:38.9 – 29:43.9] Problem with modern alcoholics nowadays, they push themselves. [29:43.9 – 29:48.6] They want, out of AA, they want things too fast, too soon. [29:48.6 – 29:51.1] Yeah. [29:51.1 – 29:55.9] They want a lot, and too soon. [29:55.9 – 29:56.9] It can't be done. [29:56.9 – 30:04.8] It cannot be done any more than anybody wants to have a sunrise right at this time of day. [30:04.8 – 30:06.3] You can't do it. [30:06.3 – 30:10.4] You gotta wait till the morning for the, the, the time that the, the sun to rise. [30:10.4 – 30:11.8] See, my friends? [30:11.8 – 30:22.1] So you see, your instructions, your directions, all in a big book of Alcoholic Anonymous. [30:22.1 – 30:32.2] Please, for your sake, read it, and learn, and you will enjoy [30:32.2 – 30:33.4] sobriety much better. [30:33.4 – 30:34.9] Sobriety is just the beginning. [30:34.9 – 30:37.0] It's just a scratch on the surface. [30:37.0 – 30:39.0] See? [30:39.0 – 30:49.1] Now, a little while ago, the secretary asked for newcomers [30:49.1 – 30:51.3] that are so many days or whatever. [30:51.3 – 30:55.4] I, I would like to offer a small suggestion. [30:55.4 – 31:07.7] I [31:07.7 – 31:12.9] thought, well, Dr. [31:12.9 – 31:14.0] Bob n- … [31:14.0 – 31:16.8] uh, the one that put, put that name on me. [31:16.8 – 31:19.0] I'm the backbone. [31:19.0 – 31:25.2] But those newcomers that are sitting around here today is the new blood that AA program needs. [31:25.2 – 31:34.2] After they reach 25, 30, 35 years, they become a backbone, then. [31:34.2 – 31:37.3] Not before, but we need new blood. [31:37.3 – 31:47.9] And those very same people that are here, today, this afternoon here, they're needed, needed [31:47.9 – 31:48.6] very much. [31:48.6 – 31:50.2] They're the new blood. [31:50.2 – 31:53.1] That's what keeps the AA going. [31:53.1 – 31:56.5] That's, is new members. [31:56.5 – 32:00.9] Now, I'm not gonna last forever. [32:00.9 – 32:11.2] Matter of fact, some, some of my, uh, AA members around Lake County out there, they even tell me, "Charlie, [32:11.2 – 32:20.4] you live too damn long." Yeah, they, uh, it seems to me like I'm crowding somebody. [32:20.4 – 32:30.4] Because, and you know, they, I don't blame them in a way because every meeting comes up, you know, and they start [32:30.4 – 32:33.4] griping about hardship they go through. [32:33.4 – 32:39.1] I usually bring a book, a, a, to them, big book, but not reading. [32:39.1 – 32:43.5] Like I did to you people a while ago, read the big book. [32:43.5 – 32:44.9] There's all the knowledge in there. [32:44.9 – 32:48.5] There's ladies in here agree, w- I hope they will agree with me. [32:48.5 – 32:54.6] When you prepare food, at times you use certain recipes that you like. [32:54.6 – 32:57.0] Am I right? [32:57.0 – 32:59.0] Okay. [32:59.0 – 33:05.5] For God's sake, your recipe's in the big Alcoholic Anonymous book for your happy sobriety. [33:05.5 – 33:07.9] That's your recipes right in there. [33:07.9 – 33:09.0] I helped to write it. [33:09.0 – 33:17.1] Now, your recipe, ladies, it works, and your food comes out beautifully, tasty, delicious. [33:17.1 – 33:24.7] So is your sobriety, my friends, members of this fellowship. [33:24.7 – 33:34.8] Read those directions in the big book of Alcoholic Anonymous, that we, we worked so hard, so [33:34.8 – 33:35.3] hard. [33:35.3 – 33:40.4] You have all that information, which we didn't. [33:40.4 – 33:49.2] From 1935 till 1939, there was no book. [33:49.2 – 33:55.2] How did we survive, huh? [33:55.2 – 34:03.2] Did any of you ask how those pioneers, six, six of us started first? [34:03.2 – 34:10.3] And little by little, after we started in 1937, we decided to write a big book. [34:10.3 – 34:16.2] And we accumulated a little more members. [34:16.2 – 34:18.1] True. [34:18.1 – 34:20.4] But they're members like today. [34:20.4 – 34:23.2] They didn't stay very long. [34:23.2 – 34:28.7] Today members want to experiment, want the, "Oh, a can of beer ain't gonna hurt me. [34:28.7 – 34:29.5] What the heck," huh? [34:29.5 – 34:30.0] You know. [34:30.0 – 34:34.9] And one six-pack is gone, they'll go get another six. [34:34.9 – 34:38.5] He comes back, another six-pack home, you know. [34:38.5 – 34:47.6] Somehow, and unknowingly to them, though they swear up, half a gallon of vodka in the other hand followed them home. [34:47.6 – 34:52.6] Started with a can of beer, hot weather. [34:52.6 – 35:00.8] Alcoholic, as I wrote in third, chapter three, alcoholic will always be alcoholic. [35:00.8 – 35:03.8] You cannot make a social drinker. [35:03.8 – 35:06.8] I ought to know. [35:06.8 – 35:13.2] I'm the first alcoholic ahead of all of you here. [35:13.2 – 35:21.9] Most, some of you wasn't even born when I was an alcoholic, so you see, I know what I'm talking about, and I'm here to help you. [35:21.9 – 35:31.9] Now, for the benefit of those newcomers, I'm gonna give you [35:31.9 – 35:41.9] interpretation of three first steps, excuse me, that I suggest you stay with until you learn more [35:41.9 – 35:48.5] about AA program and how it functions. [35:48.5 – 35:57.4] Now, you take step one, we admitted we're powerless over alcohol, and our life become unmanageable. [35:57.4 – 36:05.4] When you accept that step, you receive a physical recovery or sobriety. [36:05.4 – 36:07.4] Use either one, either word you wish. [36:07.4 – 36:12.5] That's why I wrote the choice, word choice in the book. [36:12.5 – 36:14.6] You have a choice. [36:14.6 – 36:17.9] Use either word, sobriety or recovery. [36:17.9 – 36:23.4] We use recovery, but your choice is whatever you want to call it. [36:23.4 – 36:26.0] You get physical sobriety. [36:26.0 – 36:28.6] In other words, you don't throw out your breakfast after you eat it. [36:28.6 – 36:31.3] See? [36:31.3 – 36:31.9] All right. [36:31.9 – 36:35.4] The second step is, the key word to it is believing. [36:35.4 – 36:43.0] Today, all of you, those who believe never will suffer with doubt. [36:43.0 – 36:46.7] Now, that's something to think about. [36:46.7 – 36:57.8] Key word in second step is believing that the power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity, and [36:57.8 – 36:58.5] it does. [36:58.5 – 37:03.0] It doesn't say will, it says could, because it has the power. [37:03.0 – 37:11.2] When that happens, you begin thinking a little more rationally. [37:11.2 – 37:12.4] You became sane. [37:12.4 – 37:18.3] Restores you to, uh, to sanity. [37:18.3 – 37:23.5] You receive mental recovery, see? [37:23.5 – 37:25.6] You have physical from first step. [37:25.6 – 37:31.5] Second step, mental recovery or sobriety, whichever you choose, they're both the same. [37:31.5 – 37:41.5] Now, the third step, made a decision to turn our will and our life over the care of God as we understand Him. [37:41.5 – 37:43.9] All right? [37:43.9 – 37:50.6] With that step, you receive a spiritual recovery or sobriety. [37:50.6 – 37:55.4] That's all there is, and you're a winner. [37:55.4 – 38:00.0] Physical, mental, and spiritual. [38:00.0 – 38:03.3] Achieve those three, and then stay. [38:03.3 – 38:07.0] Never mind the fourth step about fearless moral inventory of ourselves. [38:07.0 – 38:07.8] That'll come later. [38:07.8 – 38:10.2] They're all, those steps are attached to each other. [38:10.2 – 38:11.1] They won't separate. [38:11.1 – 38:12.3] They, they won't get lost. [38:12.3 – 38:14.9] No, they'll be there. [38:14.9 – 38:15.9] They'll wait for you. [38:15.9 – 38:18.4] But you must learn more. [38:18.4 – 38:22.3] Learn how to take those steps properly. [38:22.3 – 38:24.9] Understand the meaning of steps. [38:24.9 – 38:27.4] All right. [38:27.4 – 38:32.0] Now, on the twelfth [38:32.4 – 38:32.7] Step. [38:32.7 – 38:39.8] You stay with those three steps, newcomers, and see what happens. [38:39.8 – 38:51.2] You'll improve much faster as you become more solid members [38:51.2 – 38:52.5] of AA fellowship. [38:52.5 – 38:57.7] Matter of fact, it'll surprise you. [38:57.7 – 39:00.6] Try it. [39:00.6 – 39:03.6] All I ask you is try it, the newcomers. [39:03.6 – 39:07.2] That'll work with short-timers, too, that has a year or two. [39:07.2 – 39:13.3] Try that for size and see what, what change you will receive. [39:13.3 – 39:21.4] Now, now we got steps out of the way. [39:21.4 – 39:24.6] Now there's traditions. [39:24.6 – 39:30.3] There's tradition, the group unity tradition. [39:30.3 – 39:34.3] Where they come from? [39:34.3 – 39:40.0] You know, you have 12 suggested steps for recovery. [39:40.0 – 39:42.9] You got 12 traditions, 12 concepts of world service. [39:42.9 – 39:44.8] We didn't have none of those things. [39:44.8 – 39:55.4] And here I am standing before you sober for 48 [39:55.4 – 39:58.3] uninterrupted years, beautiful years. [39:58.3 – 40:08.3] I don't say that in the sense of braggadocio, but I say that in the spirit of my gratitude to my higher power that he guided me all them 48 [40:08.3 – 40:10.2] years on my sobriety. [40:10.2 – 40:18.7] You can do the same thing, provided you be honest about it when you ask him to guide you. [40:18.7 – 40:27.1] You gave your will away on the third step, but you can ask his will. [40:27.1 – 40:28.6] Where? [40:28.6 – 40:30.6] On the 11th step. [40:30.6 – 40:40.8] That's your appealing step, which is plainly read, "Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious [40:40.8 – 40:50.9] contact with God as we understand him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us [40:50.9 – 40:58.1] and the power to carry it out." I hope you understand what I'm talking about. [40:58.1 – 40:59.3] You see? [40:59.3 – 41:01.5] All you have to do is just ask him. [41:01.5 – 41:04.2] He'll grant you. [41:04.2 – 41:05.0] Yeah. [41:05.0 – 41:11.0] He'll grant you his will, and he's in the possession of that power. [41:11.0 – 41:14.2] He'll give you that power to carry it out. [41:14.2 – 41:16.2] All you have to do is be honest. [41:16.2 – 41:19.7] Please don't pretend. [41:19.7 – 41:30.2] There's so many pretenders I used to meet when I had eyesight, but now as I can't see, I [41:30.2 – 41:32.7] know there's plenty of them yet. [41:32.7 – 41:39.5] And there's the one that gripe about how hard it is to maintain sobriety. [41:39.5 – 41:44.6] The 11th step, simple. [41:44.6 – 41:46.8] Very simple. [41:46.8 – 41:49.1] All right. [41:49.1 – 41:54.9] And the traditions, for example. [41:54.9 – 42:04.9] Now, on the, uh, 12th tradition, or first tradition, it plainly states [42:04.9 – 42:07.6] that our common welfare should come first. [42:07.6 – 42:14.6] There's so many when a newcomer comes in, they go all out, get enthusiastic to help a newcomer. [42:14.6 – 42:20.1] And p- possibly they only had a few, few months of their own sobriety. [42:20.1 – 42:24.9] They haven't got enough to give to anything or anybody. [42:24.9 – 42:30.5] Still, they were, they were so, you know, so over-enthusiastic to help a newcomer. [42:30.5 – 42:32.9] Instead of helping, they hinder him. [42:32.9 – 42:43.0] So, uh, first one, first, uh, tradition plainly [42:43.0 – 42:45.9] states, our common welfare should come first. [42:45.9 – 42:54.6] But before you start helping anyone else, get something for yourself first, that you have something to give. [42:54.6 – 42:56.5] Then go ahead. [42:56.5 – 43:06.9] Then on a, on a 12 step, which plainly states about anonymity [43:06.9 – 43:17.7] is a spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. [43:17.7 – 43:28.0] How many people here present, raise your right hand if you know, what is the principles that you place before personality? [43:28.0 – 43:29.3] What are they? [43:29.3 – 43:32.2] Anybody knows what they are? [43:32.2 – 43:37.0] Does anybody know how many they are, those principles? [43:37.0 – 43:41.3] How are you gonna place principles when you don't know what they are? [43:41.3 – 43:42.6] Huh? [43:42.6 – 43:50.6] Well, I'm gonna give it to you so you will know from now on what the principles are, main principles. [43:50.6 – 44:00.7] There's three principles that attach to tradition of group unity in the 12 [44:00.7 – 44:03.2] step, or 12 tradition rather. [44:03.2 – 44:04.8] All right? [44:04.8 – 44:11.5] The principle of recovery that embodies 12 steps. [44:11.5 – 44:18.4] As a principle of unity, preservation of unity, that embodies 12 traditions. [44:18.4 – 44:29.1] As a principle of service, that means put, uh, performing service, becoming trusted [44:29.1 – 44:35.1] servants, putting something, service, in AA for what little you take out. [44:35.1 – 44:44.1] There are your three traditions: recovery, unity, and service. [44:44.1 – 44:47.8] Now, remember those. [44:47.8 – 44:50.5] And you know where they came from? [44:50.5 – 45:00.8] They, those three principles came from three legacies that our co-founders left for you to live on, by, [45:00.8 – 45:01.6] and guide you. [45:01.6 – 45:08.7] Three legacies: recovery, unity, and service. [45:08.7 – 45:12.0] All right. [45:12.0 – 45:13.7] Remember that. [45:13.7 – 45:15.5] Try. [45:15.5 – 45:21.5] And I suggest you write it down when you get home, 'cause someday it'll come in handy. [45:21.5 – 45:26.0] There are two sets of principles in AA. [45:26.0 – 45:28.9] What are the others? [45:28.9 – 45:34.8] No, I, I admit mo- a, a lot of people don't know. [45:34.8 – 45:38.2] You don't know because you don't read the big book. [45:38.2 – 45:42.6] You don't read the other literature, darn it. [45:42.6 – 45:45.0] How could you know? [45:45.0 – 45:47.4] It's printed there. [45:47.4 – 45:53.6] There's, there's two sets of principles. [45:53.6 – 45:57.8] The other principles attach to 12 suggested steps. [45:57.8 – 45:59.3] How many? [45:59.3 – 46:01.6] No, not 12. [46:01.6 – 46:07.7] No, not even six principles, but only five. [46:07.7 – 46:12.8] Five principles control 12 steps. [46:12.8 – 46:22.8] On the 12 step, in the finishing it says, "And practice these principles in all [46:22.8 – 46:27.3] our affairs." How in the world are you gonna practice principles when you don't know what they are? [46:27.3 – 46:27.9] Huh? [46:27.9 – 46:30.2] Think about it. [46:30.2 – 46:33.7] So learn what they are, and I'll tell you where you'll find them. [46:33.7 – 46:36.4] And learn them. [46:36.4 – 46:47.0] In the little book, 24-hour book, turn to a page, September [46:47.0 – 46:57.3] 16th, and you'll find explanation, definition, and what each principle represent what step. [46:57.3 – 47:07.4] Then you know what you're practicing in your everyday life, what [47:07.4 – 47:08.3] kind of principle. [47:08.3 – 47:09.8] See? [47:09.8 – 47:15.7] Those people have a 24-hour little book. [47:15.7 – 47:20.7] I repeat, page September 16th. [47:20.7 – 47:22.9] Study it. [47:22.9 – 47:32.6] Read it and study it, and try to remember it, because they are important principles of the 12 suggested steps to recovery. [47:32.6 – 47:43.4] Now, I'm giving you something that you wouldn't, couldn't get it any other way until I disclosed and told you where to find the complete [47:43.4 – 47:53.5] interpretation, the meaning of each and every, uh, principle and what step they represent. [47:53.5 – 47:55.6] See? [47:55.6 – 47:58.3] I could tell you, but I'm not gonna. [47:58.3 – 48:00.1] You read it and find out for yourself. [48:00.1 – 48:03.8] You people expect too much too soon. [48:03.8 – 48:07.3] I'm glad I came. [48:07.3 – 48:08.2] Sure. [48:08.2 – 48:17.0] And I came here for the purpose to help you people to get improvement of your daily life, because you're entitled to it. [48:17.0 – 48:20.2] You're dragging your feet. [48:20.2 – 48:23.8] Get up and walk. [48:23.8 – 48:25.4] Walk straight. [48:25.4 – 48:29.6] And you can do that as long as you're honest with yourself. [48:29.6 – 48:37.2] Now, you'll find that where we wrote, where I wrote, it demands rigorous honesty. [48:37.2 – 48:42.9] Look it up in Webster Dictionary what that rigorous means. [48:42.9 – 48:45.5] Maybe that ought to help you. [48:45.5 – 48:48.4] I could tell you, but I'm not going to. [48:48.4 – 48:51.3] I want you to find out. [48:51.3 – 48:52.3] Yeah. [48:52.3 – 48:59.6] I'm giving you something for nothing, and, uh, it'll work. [48:59.6 – 49:02.1] It'll work. [49:02.1 – 49:03.5] Everything will work. [49:03.5 – 49:12.6] Now, one thing I'm so grateful for in this AA fellowship, there's so many young people coming in. [49:12.6 – 49:20.3] In my days, the youngest ones we had is 40 years old, and they didn't stay very long. [49:20.3 – 49:30.4] Well, in our first hundred, when, uh, when we, after we wrote the book, after the book came out, we had [49:30.4 – 49:32.8] 100 sober alcoholics. [49:32.8 – 49:35.5] Took us five years to accumulate those hundred. [49:35.5 – 49:42.2] But you see, those hundred, not in that one group like here tonight or this afternoon. [49:42.2 – 49:48.2] They were scattered around eight different states in the East. [49:48.2 – 49:51.5] Yeah. [49:51.5 – 50:01.8] And, uh, by, uh, 19- and, uh, uh, 1941, in June, [50:01.8 – 50:12.0] out of 100, when I went to New York General Service office to take over, [50:12.0 – 50:21.3] there were only 42 living, sober. [50:21.3 – 50:24.5] You see how they stayed? [50:24.5 – 50:35.8] Today, a year ago, last October, uh, uh, last month, and [50:35.8 – 50:40.8] be correct, June, no, October 2nd. [50:40.8 – 50:50.8] You see, Bill W- Debili's wife, widow, Lois, and I, we have [50:50.8 – 50:52.0] something in common. [50:52.0 – 50:55.4] She's the oldest Al-Anon living. [50:55.4 – 51:01.9] We were born same year, 1891. [51:01.9 – 51:07.4] I was born in September, she was born in October. [51:07.4 – 51:17.6] And every year we got together, her and I, and Chuck Chamberlain at Laguna Beach sometime, [51:17.6 – 51:18.4] and some others. [51:18.4 – 51:20.5] We celebrated our birthdays. [51:20.5 – 51:30.9] So this, uh, last year, she invited me to Bedford Hills, the Stepping Stone Estate, [51:30.9 – 51:41.0] where she lived, for a birthday party, and she wrote to me she invited one hundred, uh, [51:41.0 – 51:50.0] thirty, thirty-two year or older, uh, old-timers to attend her birthday party. [51:50.0 – 52:00.0] Well, when I arrived there and I met her, and she says, "Oh, you know what, Charlie?" Says, "I sure bit off more than [52:00.0 – 52:02.0] I could chew." I says, "What's, what is it? [52:02.0 – 52:05.3] You need some help?" "No," she said, "you're here. [52:05.3 – 52:13.7] That's the he- all I needed now." And, uh, she said, "I've just invited a hundred," and there's over three hundred arrived. [52:13.7 – 52:23.9] So she says, "I had to, in a hurry, uh, rent a circus tent to, uh, feed them all and, [52:23.9 – 52:32.3] and caterers, extra caterers to feed the three hundred people." And six foreign nations represented. [52:32.3 – 52:38.3] They came of their own accord to pay her respect by their presence. [52:38.3 – 52:44.2] So, uh, there's only, uh, the… [52:44.2 – 52:48.6] And, uh, they set her up high above. [52:48.6 – 52:49.6] There's, there's… [52:49.6 – 52:50.4] She had the… [52:50.4 – 52:53.6] She decided that in two sessions. [52:53.6 – 52:57.6] Couldn't get all in one, uh, room or hall. [52:57.6 – 53:07.7] So, uh, we'll have a first session, a meeting, and then, uh, we go to lunch, and then after lunch, the second session would, [53:07.7 – 53:10.6] those that didn't, didn't have meet will meet. [53:10.6 – 53:14.1] And, uh, she preside at the meeting. [53:14.1 – 53:21.0] And, uh, she was sitting up there and, and she said, "I'll be very generous, my friends. [53:21.0 – 53:32.4] I'm glad all you came, but so many of you, I have decided that, uh, in order to keep this meeting in order, in nice fashion, all [53:32.4 – 53:38.0] those, all those members over thirty-two years sobriety may speak two minutes. [53:38.0 – 53:44.6] I'll be generous." So, uh, that's how the meeting went on. [53:44.6 – 53:55.6] And, uh, of course, and after, after the meeting, why, she gathered those other people and formed a crescent shape, [53:55.6 – 54:05.7] not exactly a circle, and they had a bunch of cameras, movie cameras, and still cameras, took pictures there, uh, outside on [54:05.7 – 54:07.9] the, on the, uh, the, that estate. [54:07.9 – 54:13.1] And it's, uh, it's named as the Bill's, Bill Wilson's Foundation. [54:13.1 – 54:19.5] It's maintained by, uh, by profit off the book. [54:19.5 – 54:25.0] So, uh, so that's the last time I was there. [54:25.0 – 54:35.2] And, uh, Lois was, uh, she was still walking under her own power, but she had to have help [54:35.2 – 54:38.0] going up or down the steps of any, any size at all. [54:38.0 – 54:46.5] And, uh, I, uh, I had the… [54:46.5 – 54:47.2] Let's see. [54:47.2 – 54:48.9] I'm overtime now, ain't I? [54:48.9 – 54:54.6] I can't afford to pay overtime 'cause I, I'm not, I'm not that rich. [54:54.6 – 55:04.2] Well, anyway, I think I, I, I helped you people about enough because if I didn't, you can always call me back. [55:04.2 – 55:14.3] I'll try and give you some more, uh, hallelujahs now and then because some of you [55:14.3 – 55:15.0] do need it. [55:15.0 – 55:25.1] My members, my members in Lake County out there, well, I don't object to my [55:25.1 – 55:28.1] method of throwing the book at them. [55:28.1 – 55:31.5] Well, I present the book. [55:31.5 – 55:33.7] I don't throw, but they accuse me of throwing at them. [55:33.7 – 55:38.7] Well, the only objection I have is they're reluctant to read the big book. [55:38.7 – 55:48.8] They, we spent so many hours struggling to write it, and it's going, and it's going to waste, laying on some shelves, gathering up [55:48.8 – 55:52.1] cobwebs and dust like I mentioned a little while ago. [55:52.1 – 56:03.7] It's for your benefit, for your improvement of your everyday living, and also improvement [56:03.7 – 56:04.3] of your health. [56:04.3 – 56:06.2] Think about that. [56:06.2 – 56:10.7] And you get such improvement, you may live as long as Charlie. [56:10.7 – 56:14.0] That is, if you're likely to live that long. [56:14.0 – 56:17.5] However, I had my checkup last Thursday. [56:17.5 – 56:24.0] Oh, yes, incidentally, in, uh, seventy-nine, I had a stroke. [56:24.0 – 56:25.9] I lost my eyesight. [56:25.9 – 56:34.1] And, uh, this last, uh, last spring, I've, I, it took me four months to get over. [56:34.1 – 56:37.3] They took my ninety-one-year-old appendix out. [56:37.3 – 56:41.5] And they laid me up for four months. [56:41.5 – 56:43.2] I finally got over it. [56:43.2 – 56:51.2] So, uh, last Thursday, uh, I had my last checkup, and I asked the doctor, I says, "Well, Dr. [56:51.2 – 56:56.5] Joyce, are you gonna g- give me a clean bill of health?" "Oh," he says, "Charlie, I'll do better than that. [56:56.5 – 57:08.1] So I'm gonna give you ten more years to live." So [57:08.1 – 57:13.0] you see f- so you see, my friends, you're stuck with Charlie whether you like him or not. [57:13.0 – 57:15.7] All right. [57:15.7 – 57:20.5] Now, I'm gonna give you one of my best pearls of wisdom. [57:20.5 – 57:25.7] What is the A Way of Life besides being sober? [57:25.7 – 57:28.6] That's another thing a lot of you don't know. [57:28.6 – 57:32.7] But you will after now, 'cause I'll tell you. [57:32.7 – 57:43.5] The A Way of Life is a successful living, is a journey to simplicity, and simplicity leads to triumph [57:43.5 – 57:45.2] over your confusion. [57:45.2 – 57:48.1] When you reach to that point-