Recollections of Long-Timers presented by Recollections of Long-Timers – 2025-07-01

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Moderator Recollections of Long-Timers speaking on "Recollections of Long-Timers" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (July 01, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.600 – 00:00:06.480] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:15

[00 00:06.480 – 00:00:08.599] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

0:17

[00 00:08.599 – 00:00:19.010] My name is Tim, and tonight we have kind of a different, uh, presentation tonight as a result of our scheduled presenter,

0:25

[00 00:19.010 – 00:00:21.359] um, not being able to be on tonight.

0:28

[00 00:21.359 – 00:00:26.439] So I'm changing it up a little bit, and I'll, I'll share more about that in a couple minutes.

0:34

[00 00:26.439 – 00:00:31.399] Uh, we meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:40

[00 00:31.399 – 00:00:34.600] And next week we have Kesting C.

0:42

[00 00:34.600 – 00:00:38.259] doing a presentation on the Little Red Book.

0:45

[00 00:38.259 – 00:00:41.679] Um, so please join us again next Tuesday for that.

0:49

[00 00:41.679 – 00:00:52.060] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation as well as all of our past presentations can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:57

[00 00:52.060 – 00:01:02.479] 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

1:05

[00 01:02.479 – 00:01:03.140] fellowships.

1:05

[00 01:03.140 – 00:01:13.159] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step

1:11

[00 01:13.159 – 00:01:18.079] movement available for everyone today and in the future.

1:14

[00 01:18.079 – 00:01:28.099] Uh, we share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library, and included in the daily emails are the

1:22

[00 01:28.099 – 00:01:33.260] recordings of this meeting as well as the flyers for upcoming presentations.

1:27

[00 01:33.260 – 00:01:43.680] And if you would like to receive our daily email, I am sharing the link in the chat to where you can subscribe, or you can send me an email

1:36

[00 01:43.680 – 00:01:49.319] at info@recoveryspeakers.com and I'll get you added to our email list.

1:41

[00 01:49.319 – 00:01:57.099] And Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.

1:44

[00 01:57.099 – 00:02:07.340] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I am sharing in the chat the link to where donations can be made,

1:54

[00 02:07.340 – 00:02:09.300] and we really appreciate all of your support.

1:57

[00 02:09.300 – 00:02:15.759] And now jumping into tonight's meeting.

1:59

[00 02:15.759 – 00:02:25.900] We have, uh, originally scheduled, uh, was a presentation on, uh,

2:03

[00 02:25.900 – 00:02:28.120] six overs- over 60.

2:04

[00 02:28.120 – 00:02:38.460] So it was Chad who was going to, to share the presentation tonight about six long-timers that had over 60 years of sobriety when they passed away, and they were long-timers

2:14

[00 02:38.460 – 00:02:39.800] that he personally knew.

2:16

[00 02:39.800 – 00:02:49.939] And so tonight, since he cannot make it, we thought it would be good to kind of open it up to people to share their own stories of

2:25

[00 02:49.939 – 00:02:52.879] the people that have influenced them that were long-timers.

2:28

[00 02:52.879 – 00:02:58.400] Um, so tonight I have a list of five volunteers that will share.

2:33

[00 02:58.400 – 00:03:05.250] And just to kick us off, I just wanna share, uh, an experience that I had, uh, with a long-timer.

2:39

[00 03:05.250 – 00:03:08.900] And, uh, so I'll start first.

2:42

[00 03:08.900 – 00:03:09.719] Um, I'm Tim.

2:43

[00 03:09.719 – 00:03:10.539] I'm an alcoholic.

2:44

[00 03:10.539 – 00:03:14.159] My sobriety date is May 18th, 2013.

2:46

[00 03:14.159 – 00:03:24.180] And for that, I am so grateful, and it was a day that I never, uh, thought would come in my life, and it's not a day that I thought I, I needed to happen in

2:58

[00 03:24.180 – 00:03:24.719] my life.

2:59

[00 03:24.719 – 00:03:27.919] I was just kind of stuck with who I was.

3:03

[00 03:27.919 – 00:03:35.120] And, uh, I ended up through, uh, the circumstances of my life.

3:07

[00 03:35.120 – 00:03:43.870] I was living in Buffalo, New York, and crashed my life down and had no options, and I have family that are also in recovery.

3:15

[00 03:43.870 – 00:03:53.939] And I was given a choice to go out to Arizona and live with my uncle for 30 days and go to a few meetings he said, and, uh,

3:24

[00 03:53.939 – 00:03:55.219] see if I wanna get sober.

3:26

[00 03:55.219 – 00:04:01.659] And up to that point, I had never been to a detox, a treatment center, a meeting.

3:32

[00 04:01.659 – 00:04:04.340] I was oblivious to recovery.

3:34

[00 04:04.340 – 00:04:09.680] I thought it was something that, like, rich people and celebrities did.

3:38

[00 04:09.680 – 00:04:17.939] Like, didn't think, uh, treatment or recovery was really possible for someone like me, even though it was in my own family.

3:46

[00 04:17.939 – 00:04:28.069] Um, so I get out to Arizona in May 2013, and, uh, about a week after I had been there, and, uh, at that

3:53

[00 04:28.069 – 00:04:31.100] point, I had fallen in love with AA.

3:56

[00 04:31.100 – 00:04:36.480] I showed up at my first meeting and, uh, I was like, "These are my people.

4:02

[00 04:36.480 – 00:04:42.899] I have-- There's a solution for my problem." I thought that, you know, this is, this is it.

4:08

[00 04:42.899 – 00:04:44.560] This is what I, I wanna do now.

4:11

[00 04:44.560 – 00:04:48.319] And, uh, I, I made the decision I was gonna go through with it.

4:15

[00 04:48.319 – 00:04:58.339] So I'm getting involved and getting phone numbers and meeting people and, um, one week Sorry

4:21

[00 04:58.339 – 00:04:59.160] about my dog.

4:22

[00 04:59.160 – 00:05:09.319] One week into, uh, my sobriety, there was the, I can't remember what year, but it was the anniversary of the founding of AA

4:30

[00 05:09.319 – 00:05:10.339] in Arizona.

4:31

[00 05:10.339 – 00:05:19.420] And so it was a big celebration that was, uh, being held in, uh, a church auditorium, but it was a lot of, a lot of people.

4:40

[00 05:19.420 – 00:05:28.540] And the speaker that night was Howard P., um, who got sober in California and moved to Arizona.

4:46

[00 05:28.540 – 00:05:36.939] And up to that, uh, I was a week sober, and I met him maybe 10 minutes before he went up to speak, and he just asked me a couple questions.

4:56

[00 05:36.939 – 00:05:43.680] And, um, so he gets up to speak, and I'm down there, uh, maybe fifth row.

5:01

[00 05:43.680 – 00:05:53.680] And to start off his talk, he just mentions, um, his friend is here from New York, that

5:07

[00 05:53.680 – 00:06:00.100] he just wanted to introduce me to some people, and he wanted to say how grateful he was that I was there.

5:15

[00 06:00.100 – 00:06:10.180] And just that one act of kindness to, to point me out, it made me feel so welcome of even more of this is where I need to

5:24

[00 06:10.180 – 00:06:10.480] be.

5:24

[00 06:10.480 – 00:06:17.139] And, uh, and that, that feeling of connection to other people is what I needed.

5:30

[00 06:17.139 – 00:06:22.759] And a week later, I go over to his house, and he teaches me to meditate.

5:35

[00 06:22.759 – 00:06:24.600] And he's kind of out there.

5:37

[00 06:24.600 – 00:06:34.839] And, uh, Howard would, uh, talk about 13.8 billion years ago, there were molecules that expanded, and,

5:43

[00 06:34.839 – 00:06:42.759] and he brought me through the whole process of the, the of the universe up till this moment that we are in right now.

5:51

[00 06:42.759 – 00:06:51.079] And at the time, I was, I was just, uh, I mean, my brain was just fog.

5:56

[00 06:51.079 – 00:06:58.230] But it-- The experiences that I had, it made me, made me feel welcome, and that-

6:02

[00 06:58.353 – 00:07:02.853] That was the lasting impact that I have of Howard's presence in my life.

6:07

[00 07:02.853 – 00:07:09.973] He passed away six years ago, um, just short of 50 years, uh, sober.

6:11

[00 07:09.973 – 00:07:19.973] And, uh, and the whole time he was, he was in my, in my life, uh, for six years, and, uh, I loved him so much, and I'm

6:20

[00 07:19.973 – 00:07:23.933] so grateful for the impact that he had on me in my life.

6:25

[00 07:23.933 – 00:07:29.233] So thank you for listening to my short story about Howard.

6:29

[00 07:29.233 – 00:07:36.793] And now, next up, I'm gonna ask Sid to jump in and unmute, and, uh, and he can take 10 minutes.

6:35

[00 07:36.793 – 00:07:42.513] I will, uh, set a timer here, and I will unmute myself and just say, uh ...

6:41

[00 07:42.513 – 00:07:45.713] I'll make some kind of noise for you so you can hear me.

6:45

[00 07:45.713 – 00:07:48.803] Um, Sid, are you there?

6:47

[00 07:48.803 – 00:07:49.883] Are you able to unmute?

6:49

[00 07:49.883 – 00:07:58.233] Looks like we lost Sid.

6:51

[00 07:58.233 – 00:08:00.513] Carol, do you wanna jump in?

6:53

[00 08:00.513 – 00:08:06.293] If Sid comes back, I will, uh, get him on here, but Carol, you can take it away.

6:59

[00 08:06.293 – 00:08:07.533] Thank you for Thanks, Tim.

7:01

[00 08:07.533 – 00:08:08.753] I'll set my timer.

7:03

[00 08:08.753 – 00:08:09.293] Hi, everybody.

7:04

[00 08:09.293 – 00:08:11.193] I'm an alcoholic, and my name is Carol.

7:07

[00 08:11.193 – 00:08:21.593] I'm grateful to be here, and I was given the gift of sobriety at the Glass House Group in Fort Worth, Texas, May 1st, 1988, so I'm sober a little over 37

7:16

[00 08:21.593 – 00:08:22.473] years.

7:17

[00 08:22.473 – 00:08:24.323] And thanks for this opportunity.

7:19

[00 08:24.323 – 00:08:29.173] You know, Mike wrote this book, A Thousand Years of Sobriety, and I've been reading it.

7:24

[00 08:29.173 – 00:08:34.413] And, and there's a story about Cease from Canada, and he mentioned David A.

7:29

[00 08:34.413 – 00:08:35.413] and Willard.

7:30

[00 08:35.413 – 00:08:37.033] So David A.

7:31

[00 08:37.033 – 00:08:39.453] from Dallas became a dear friend of mine.

7:34

[00 08:39.453 – 00:08:46.673] And when I came in, I thought I had a hateful, punishing God, and I had to ask this higher power to show me it's working.

7:43

[00 08:46.673 – 00:08:56.853] And one Sunday morning, I went to the Harbor Group in Fort Worth and said, "I've been listening to this cassette tape." That's what we had when I got sober, cassette tapes.

7:53

[00 08:56.853 – 00:09:06.662] And I said, "I've been listening to a tape of this guy named David A., and if he ever comes to Fort Worth from Dallas, I wanna hear him." And they pointed across the room and said he was our speaker that morning.

8:07

[00 09:06.662 – 00:09:10.013] And so I got to be good friends with David.

8:11

[00 09:10.013 – 00:09:16.253] And the day I got my nine-month, um, token, he happened to be the speaker at Glass House.

8:17

[00 09:16.253 – 00:09:20.453] And he told me if I work it right, it's the last m- chip I ever get.

8:23

[00 09:20.453 – 00:09:28.653] And I said, "No, I get one of the year." And he said, "No, then you get medallions." And he, he was a dear friend, and I used to go visit him.

8:33

[00 09:28.653 – 00:09:33.023] And, and, uh, and this, the internationals bring back memories.

8:37

[00 09:33.023 – 00:09:39.343] At two years sober, I got to go to the Seattle International, and I got to share at the Loners International meeting.

8:44

[00 09:39.343 – 00:09:47.303] And I remember it was July 4th weekend, and I was in the Westin Hotel on the 27th floor on July 4th.

8:51

[00 09:47.303 – 00:09:53.173] And I was talking to people, and one of them happened to be Sandy Beach, and at two years sober, I didn't know who he was.

9:00

[00 09:53.173 – 00:09:58.113] But he was sitting at a table with his wife and another couple, and we got talking, and I said...

9:07

[00 09:58.113 – 00:10:01.663] We were talking about mutual people we knew, and I said, "I knew David A.

9:12

[00 10:01.663 – 00:10:04.173] and Gracie." And he said, yeah, they're friends of his.

9:15

[00 10:04.173 – 00:10:08.853] And guess who walked into the 27th floor of the Westin Hotel that night right then?

9:21

[00 10:08.853 – 00:10:10.313] David and Gracie.

9:22

[00 10:10.313 – 00:10:11.533] And I started crying.

9:24

[00 10:11.533 – 00:10:16.693] And he used to come and talk about the steps and the traditions and, and he knew Bill Wilson.

9:30

[00 10:16.693 – 00:10:26.393] And, and, uh, when I had a year sober, I went to the Gathering of Eagles meeting in Dallas, and I got to meet Searcy, who got sober in 1946.

9:40

[00 10:26.393 – 00:10:29.353] And Searcy became a really good friend of mine.

9:43

[00 10:29.353 – 00:10:31.653] And also at that meeting was Dr.

9:45

[00 10:31.653 – 00:10:34.593] Bob Smith, Smitty, and his wife, Betty.

9:48

[00 10:34.593 – 00:10:36.873] And I got to be really good friends with them.

9:51

[00 10:36.873 – 00:10:42.093] And, you know, bec- Betty and I used to write letters, and this isn't a real happy story.

9:58

[00 10:42.093 – 00:10:47.813] But Betty and I wrote letters, and a few years ago, I reread the letters and sent them to GSO.

10:04

[00 10:47.813 – 00:10:54.393] And one day, I got up and, and just had this urge to call Smitty and Betty really strong, and I did.

10:12

[00 10:54.393 – 00:10:55.853] And Smitty answered the phone.

10:13

[00 10:55.853 – 00:11:00.773] He said, "You need to talk to Betty." And I forgot this story till I reread her letter.

10:20

[00 11:00.773 – 00:11:05.113] And, and he, and she got on the phone, and it was the day their son committed suicide.

10:26

[00 11:05.113 – 00:11:06.673] He was in their early 30s.

10:28

[00 11:06.673 – 00:11:09.413] And I got to talk with Betty and Smitty.

10:31

[00 11:09.413 – 00:11:17.473] And, um, I saw Smitty and Searcy at the International in Minneapolis, and I got to have that experience with them.

10:38

[00 11:17.473 – 00:11:20.953] And, and they're just became really good friends.

10:41

[00 11:20.953 – 00:11:22.233] I used to go to their house.

10:43

[00 11:22.233 – 00:11:31.353] And, and I got sober at the Glass House, and we had an, a speaker named Jim W., and he spoke all over the world, and he was one of the founders of the Glass House.

10:55

[00 11:31.353 – 00:11:35.773] And when I would sit in those meetings, I'd laugh because it felt like a comedy club.

11:01

[00 11:35.773 – 00:11:39.133] And he would say things like, "What's going on isn't really what's going on.

11:06

[00 11:39.133 – 00:11:44.013] It's only what you think's going on, but not really what's going on." And I understood that.

11:12

[00 11:44.013 – 00:11:49.093] And we would laugh, and we would just have these wonderful stories together.

11:16

[00 11:49.093 – 00:11:56.093] And, um, my current sponsor got sober at 18 in 1965.

11:19

[00 11:56.093 – 00:11:59.233] In June 6, she celebrated 60 years of sobriety.

11:22

[00 11:59.233 – 00:12:04.113] And I started drinking at 18, so that was kind of interesting.

11:26

[00 12:04.113 – 00:12:11.413] And, and then the San- San Diego International, during the big meeting on the Saturday night countdown, this ...

11:32

[00 12:11.413 – 00:12:18.413] I was seven years sober, and this lady stood what seemed like forever and ever, and when she sat down, I said, "Excuse me, ma'am.

11:40

[00 12:18.413 – 00:12:28.653] When did you get sober?" And she said, "April 30th, 1950." And I said, "That's five months before I was born." And she became my sponsor, and

11:48

[00 12:28.653 – 00:12:39.433] I got to go to San Diego and see her get her 50-year medallion, and she died 54 and a half years sober, 94 and a half years old in 2005.

11:58

[00 12:39.433 – 00:12:42.153] And that was just a joy.

12:00

[00 12:42.153 – 00:12:46.253] And she had that sparkle in her eyes, and she still went to meetings.

12:05

[00 12:46.253 – 00:12:52.713] And, you know, I've had three sponsors pass away, and they were all s- active in service until they passed.

12:11

[00 12:52.713 – 00:13:02.833] And one of them was two, two-- I met her through Loners International, the letters by mail, and she died two weeks before she was 100 with 45 years

12:20

[00 13:02.833 – 00:13:03.953] of sobriety.

12:21

[00 13:03.953 – 00:13:09.023] And she planned her 100th birthday party and had a new pacemaker at 92.

12:26

[00 13:09.023 – 00:13:19.113] And, you know, just to watch these long-timers, I just got to hear June share, and, oh, I'm just so blessed to get

12:33

[00 13:19.113 – 00:13:20.573] to hear these long-timers, right?

12:35

[00 13:20.573 – 00:13:25.693] We just heard Miss Ethel, who got sober in 1955, and she's 70 years sober.

12:40

[00 13:25.693 – 00:13:29.453] And, and talking to her on the phone is a great experience.

12:44

[00 13:29.453 – 00:13:31.593] She has the best stories.

12:46

[00 13:31.593 – 00:13:40.793] Not that she's telling her story, but that she tells stories of her life when you talk to her one-on-one, and she laughs, and that's what I want.

12:55

[00 13:40.793 – 00:13:41.153] You know?

12:56

[00 13:41.153 – 00:13:48.893] I, I like the long-timers, and some of them you'd, I'd ask them, you know, "What's life like sober for a long time?" Because I was new.

13:05

[00 13:48.893 – 00:13:56.513] And, and they said, "Life gets hard sometimes." And what they find is it brings them closer to God and works their program harder

13:13

[00 13:56.640 – 00:14:01.080] And that's what I found for me too, going through some challenges in life.

13:18

[00 14:01.080 – 00:14:03.780] And, and I love this book, Years of Sobriety.

13:21

[00 14:03.780 – 00:14:11.360] There's a man I met who got sober in 1972, about three months ago online, and, and he's got some serious health stuff.

13:28

[00 14:11.360 – 00:14:21.380] And, and so I just went to a conference in Tennessee, and I drove up to Missouri to meet him, and I sat with him for a week and heard stories he told, you

13:39

[00 14:21.380 – 00:14:23.270] know, about what sobriety was like.

13:42

[00 14:23.270 – 00:14:26.600] And now I'm reading the Thousand Years of Sobriety stories.

13:45

[00 14:26.600 – 00:14:31.480] And what's really cool, because I love the history, is it'll be something Sybil's name was there.

13:51

[00 14:31.480 – 00:14:36.260] I said, "Do you know who Sybil was?" And I get to share who Sybil was and her impact.

13:57

[00 14:36.260 – 00:14:41.200] Or, you know, it talks about, um, Sister Ignatia and Rosary Hall.

14:01

[00 14:41.200 – 00:14:46.200] And I said, "Do you know why Rosary Hall's called Rosary Hall?" And I got to tell him those stories.

14:08

[00 14:46.200 – 00:14:51.990] And so our history and, and the experiences of meeting these people are all coming together.

14:14

[00 14:51.990 – 00:14:58.740] And I remember being at the San Diego International and, and somebody was telling their story at one of the big meetings.

14:21

[00 14:58.740 – 00:15:07.610] And I said, "That sounds familiar." And I always bring a new big book for somebody to sign at the Internationals, and he signed the story Physician Heal Thyself, and it was Dr.

14:32

[00 15:07.610 – 00:15:10.030] Earl, and that was his story.

14:34

[00 15:10.030 – 00:15:11.800] And I got to meet Dr.

14:36

[00 15:11.800 – 00:15:13.150] Paul a few times.

14:38

[00 15:13.150 – 00:15:16.880] And very blessed, you know.

14:40

[00 15:16.880 – 00:15:21.260] In hearing people, I hear a lot of people, and they talk about some of these long-timers.

14:46

[00 15:21.260 – 00:15:24.440] I just went to a conference in Tennessee, and Bob B.

14:49

[00 15:24.440 – 00:15:27.040] from Minneapolis was the speaker.

14:51

[00 15:27.040 – 00:15:34.180] And I heard him when I was a year or two sober in Dallas at a conference, and he's still sober and so am I.

15:00

[00 15:34.180 – 00:15:37.080] So it just show-- And he's got this stillness.

15:03

[00 15:37.080 – 00:15:41.180] I was watching him during the conference, and he just sits there and listens.

15:08

[00 15:41.180 – 00:15:42.920] And, you know, it was really funny.

15:10

[00 15:42.920 – 00:15:49.100] At this conference, somebody was crying, and so somebody put a box of tissues up on the podium next to the speaker.

15:17

[00 15:49.100 – 00:15:55.740] But it must have been blocking his view, and he stood up, and he went and got that box of tissues and moved it.

15:25

[00 15:55.740 – 00:15:58.280] And we all just laughed, you know.

15:28

[00 15:58.280 – 00:16:01.400] I don't think I would have had the courage to do that.

15:32

[00 16:01.400 – 00:16:06.700] But with that peacefulness of the long-timers and that stillness, I love it.

15:37

[00 16:06.700 – 00:16:14.400] And because of the online meeting, we've had the online meetings a long time, like penny shares, and I did them, but we didn't know who we're communicating with.

15:46

[00 16:14.400 – 00:16:24.400] And so with the pictures and the sound now, we're getting to meet so many long-timers, and they're all over the world, getting to hear people, the longest per- sober

15:56

[00 16:24.400 – 00:16:25.940] person in Ireland.

15:57

[00 16:25.940 – 00:16:29.580] And so I'm really grateful to have this opportunity.

16:00

[00 16:29.580 – 00:16:37.580] Tim, thank you for letting me share some s- of my stories, and I am really grateful to still be sober.

16:07

[00 16:37.580 – 00:16:41.040] You know, since I came to you all, I never drank again.

16:12

[00 16:41.040 – 00:16:43.000] I've been willing to go to any length.

16:14

[00 16:43.000 – 00:16:47.420] You know, my first-- I tell you, my first sponsor's name was Lois, and she had been a smoker.

16:21

[00 16:47.420 – 00:16:51.260] And I-- she got sober in June 1962.

16:23

[00 16:51.260 – 00:16:53.260] I got sober in '88.

16:25

[00 16:53.260 – 00:17:03.380] And I met her because somebody said, "There's a woman at home that needs a meeting, that's confined to bed." And so I took that meeting of me going to visit her,

16:36

[00 17:03.380 – 00:17:07.300] sitting on her bed, and she died when I had a year sober.

16:40

[00 17:07.300 – 00:17:10.520] What she taught me is still what I do today.

16:44

[00 17:10.520 – 00:17:13.740] And when you brought up the little red book, we used the little red book a lot.

16:50

[00 17:13.740 – 00:17:19.190] Be- she said when she got sober, the only books they had is the big book, the twelve and twenty, the little red book.

16:58

[00 17:19.190 – 00:17:25.600] And I wished-- you know, I never thought to ask my sponsor who got sober in 1950 who her sponsor was.

17:04

[00 17:25.600 – 00:17:28.080] Would have been really interesting to know.

17:07

[00 17:28.080 – 00:17:32.280] So now I'm asking questions of people, so I know knowledge.

17:11

[00 17:32.280 – 00:17:33.800] And thank you again, Tim.

17:13

[00 17:33.800 – 00:17:35.620] I appreciate the opportunity.

17:14

[00 17:35.620 – 00:17:38.760] Thank you so much, Carol.

17:16

[00 17:38.760 – 00:17:41.800] And next up we have Sid.

17:18

[00 17:41.800 – 00:17:42.780] You can unmute.

17:20

[00 17:42.780 – 00:17:48.500] And I will, uh, set a timer for ten minutes, and if you go long, I'll jump in.

17:26

[00 17:48.500 – 00:17:50.340] Thanks, Tim.

17:27

[00 17:50.340 – 00:17:52.500] Uh, Sid, alcoholic.

17:28

[00 17:52.500 – 00:17:56.800] Um, sobriety date is New Year's Day of, uh, 2018.

17:31

[00 17:56.800 – 00:17:59.900] Um, thankful for the life that I have today.

17:34

[00 17:59.900 – 00:18:08.380] Um, and, uh, my-- I was gonna share about, uh, my first sponsor, uh, who was near and dear to my heart.

17:42

[00 18:08.380 – 00:18:13.340] I, uh, he got sober April 24th, 1972.

17:44

[00 18:13.340 – 00:18:20.980] And, uh, he was this, uh, short little Irishman, uh, from the south side of Pittsburgh.

17:50

[00 18:20.980 – 00:18:24.100] Grew up and, and r- was raised in, in Pittsburgh.

17:53

[00 18:24.100 – 00:18:31.360] And, uh, I got into the program similar to you, uh, that I heard Tim was kind of like accidentally.

18:00

[00 18:31.360 – 00:18:35.380] You know, I didn't go to rehab, didn't go to any meetings.

18:04

[00 18:35.380 – 00:18:45.420] Uh, but I, I knew, uh, I had a s- I had a feeling of, uh, uh, everything started closing down on me, and people

18:12

[00 18:45.420 – 00:18:46.660] were behind my back.

18:14

[00 18:46.660 – 00:18:51.160] And, you know, the monkey on the shoulder, just wanna get the heat off.

18:19

[00 18:51.160 – 00:18:56.470] Like, I thought I could do it alone, and, uh, stayed sober for like fifteen days.

18:24

[00 18:56.470 – 00:19:05.860] And, uh, going insane, you know, the mental obsession which they talk about now that I understand that it was really, it was on, you know.

18:33

[00 19:05.860 – 00:19:08.380] And, uh, didn't know where to turn.

18:35

[00 19:08.380 – 00:19:18.400] A friend of mine that I grew up with in Canada, he kind of, uh, suggested, he say, "Hey, why don't you go to AA?" I said, "What's that?" And he said, "Oh, it's this,

18:47

[00 19:18.400 – 00:19:28.450] uh, it's like, you know, they go there, they don't drink, they go to meetings, you know." Uh, I said, "Oh, like the ones in the movies, you know, they sit in a circle, they talk about stuff?" Said, "Yeah." I said, "Oh,

19:01

[00 19:28.450 – 00:19:29.320] I don't really know.

19:02

[00 19:29.320 – 00:19:39.360] I don't know if it's gonna work." He, he asked me that, uh, the million-dollar question, you know, uh, "What do you have to lose?" You know, and, uh, that's really the question.

19:13

[00 19:39.360 – 00:19:41.580] So I got into the program.

19:15

[00 19:41.580 – 00:19:44.740] The third meeting, I finally shared.

19:18

[00 19:44.740 – 00:19:46.000] I got some courage.

19:19

[00 19:46.000 – 00:19:51.700] I mustered up the courage and shared about an incident that happened when I was, like, twenty-one.

19:25

[00 19:51.700 – 00:20:01.780] And, uh, you know, I was in a motorbike wreck, and my friend died, and I was, you know, poor me, self-pity, you know, all those things, guilt,

19:34

[00 20:01.780 – 00:20:05.560] shame, remorse, all those feelings that came up.

19:37

[00 20:05.560 – 00:20:15.640] And then what I-- And, you know, the guy that was chairing the meeting came up to me after the meeting, and he said, "Hey, like, stick around,

19:46

[00 20:15.640 – 00:20:16.060] you know.

19:47

[00 20:16.060 – 00:20:18.040] Um, there's this guy I want you to meet.

19:50

[00 20:18.040 – 00:20:19.780] And, uh, just stay.

19:52

[00 20:19.780 – 00:20:20.760] He's my sponsor.

19:53

[00 20:20.760 – 00:20:28.960] Just stick around, you know." And I didn't really know what that meant, uh, like sponsor or anything like that, or the steps or anything.

20:02

[00 20:28.960 – 00:20:32.160] I was just, uh-- And I saw this guy standing there.

20:05

[00 20:32.160 – 00:20:37.620] It was, like, five people around him, and they were chatting and laughing.

20:10

[00 20:37.620 – 00:20:40.360] And I'm just-- I was, like, just a nervous wreck, you know.

20:14

[00 20:40.360 – 00:20:42.720] Just, I just wanted to leave, you know.

20:17

[00 20:42.720 – 00:20:45.290] And I didn't wanna be there.

20:19

[00 20:45.290 – 00:20:51.560] And you know that feeling we have, we're so important, I got things to do, you know, where I really didn't have anything to do.

20:27

[00 20:51.560 – 00:20:54.260] I just didn't, I didn't feel the need to wait

20:31

[00 20:54.941 – 00:20:56.341] And meet this guy, you know?

20:33

[00 20:56.341 – 00:21:04.521] And, uh, little did I know, you know, this conversation would change the trajectory of the future, you know?

20:40

[00 21:04.521 – 00:21:13.641] And, uh, and so finally, he, he troddled around and, uh, you know, he sat and he introduced himself.

20:46

[00 21:13.641 – 00:21:16.121] And, uh, you know, he did something very unique.

20:49

[00 21:16.121 – 00:21:18.601] You know what they say in our program.

20:52

[00 21:18.601 – 00:21:24.941] Um, I call Gene, his name was Gene Ritter, I call him a page 18 alcoholic.

20:57

[00 21:24.941 – 00:21:28.361] You know, he was properly armed with facts about himself.

21:01

[00 21:28.361 – 00:21:32.241] He knew, he knew what, what it was to be an alcoholic.

21:05

[00 21:32.241 – 00:21:35.761] And, uh, he only talked about himself.

21:07

[00 21:35.761 – 00:21:37.621] He didn't point a finger at me.

21:10

[00 21:37.621 – 00:21:41.921] His approach was very different than anything from before.

21:13

[00 21:41.921 – 00:21:46.121] You know, when people advised me or doctors told me this and that.

21:17

[00 21:46.121 – 00:21:52.781] And he laid out a simple set of instructions, you know.

21:21

[00 21:52.781 – 00:22:00.301] And the first one being to call him at 6:00 AM, which I thought was pretty intense, you know.

21:27

[00 22:00.301 – 00:22:04.241] I said, "Well, I don't wake up at 6:00," you know.

21:31

[00 22:04.241 – 00:22:07.261] And he said, "Well, why don't you start tomorrow?

21:34

[00 22:07.261 – 00:22:11.201] You know, you can start tomorrow." He, he was a no bullshit guy.

21:39

[00 22:11.201 – 00:22:13.921] You know, he didn't play around with recovery.

21:41

[00 22:13.921 – 00:22:16.681] Um, and he made it very clear from the beginning.

21:45

[00 22:16.681 – 00:22:18.501] And I needed somebody like that.

21:47

[00 22:18.501 – 00:22:21.661] I needed somebody to whoop me right into shape, you know.

21:51

[00 22:21.661 – 00:22:24.071] And, uh, so we started.

21:53

[00 22:24.071 – 00:22:25.981] Um, I called him the next day.

21:55

[00 22:25.981 – 00:22:28.581] And you know, I'm, I'm smart.

21:58

[00 22:28.581 – 00:22:31.001] I'm a s- I'm a smart alcoholic, you know.

22:01

[00 22:31.001 – 00:22:33.941] Uh, I'll say I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be extra.

22:04

[00 22:33.941 – 00:22:36.061] I'm gonna call him five minutes early, you know.

22:08

[00 22:36.061 – 00:22:43.341] And so I give him a call like 5:55, and he picks up the phone and he said, you know, "Praise the Lord.

22:15

[00 22:43.341 – 00:22:44.641] Ain't it great to be sober?

22:17

[00 22:44.641 – 00:22:52.241] What's the time right now, Sid?" I said, "5:55." He said, "Well, I told you to call me at 6:00," and he hung up the phone, you know.

22:26

[00 22:52.241 – 00:22:57.081] And, um, and I was like, "I'm never calling this guy ever again," you know.

22:31

[00 22:57.081 – 00:23:04.300] And for some reason, the next day I was prompted to give him a call exactly at 6:00.

22:37

[00 23:04.300 – 00:23:10.761] And that's what I come to believe and understand as the ego, you know, got me to do that.

22:43

[00 23:10.761 – 00:23:13.721] And I, and I called right at 6:00 o'clock.

22:46

[00 23:13.721 – 00:23:21.321] And he said, you know, he picked up the phone and the first thing he said was, "We alcoholics are undisciplined.

22:53

[00 23:21.321 – 00:23:25.301] You know, we're undisciplined." He used to say, say things right from the book.

22:58

[00 23:25.301 – 00:23:27.981] You know, we let God discipline us, you know.

23:01

[00 23:27.981 – 00:23:35.421] "If I tell you to call me at 6:00, call me at 6:00." He said, um, "Get that blue book." I didn't really, I didn't even know the name of the book.

23:11

[00 23:35.421 – 00:23:36.621] It was called the Big Book.

23:13

[00 23:36.621 – 00:23:43.900] Said, "Get that blue book, um, and turn to page 62." You know, and that's where we started the recovery.

23:19

[00 23:43.900 – 00:23:53.921] You know, and I was like, "Why don't we start at the beginning?" And, uh, he said, "Well, why don't you just do what I tell you?" You know, that's, that was how our relationship was right from the start.

23:32

[00 23:53.921 – 00:23:56.821] And, uh, he was my dude, man, you know.

23:36

[00 23:56.821 – 00:24:01.581] And, uh, you know, we read 62 for 90 days straight.

23:39

[00 24:01.581 – 00:24:02.401] Nothing else.

23:40

[00 24:02.401 – 00:24:07.471] No doctor's opinion, no there is a solution, no God, nothing.

23:44

[00 24:07.471 – 00:24:11.081] He's like, "The problem for the alcoholic is entering the mind.

23:47

[00 24:11.081 – 00:24:12.541] You're selfish and self-centered.

23:49

[00 24:12.541 – 00:24:15.521] Until you understand that, you can't make any progress.

23:52

[00 24:15.521 – 00:24:16.501] Don't drink.

23:53

[00 24:16.501 – 00:24:18.121] Go to a meeting every day.

23:55

[00 24:18.121 – 00:24:20.761] Call me at 6:00 AM." And I did that.

23:58

[00 24:20.761 – 00:24:23.501] And, uh, I started to slowly change.

24:01

[00 24:23.501 – 00:24:26.281] I started to slowly turn things over.

24:03

[00 24:26.281 – 00:24:32.521] And I was, I was approaching and, uh, I was able to, he was able to work with me.

24:10

[00 24:32.521 – 00:24:36.541] I was not in workable condition at the beginning, you know.

24:14

[00 24:36.541 – 00:24:37.501] And I'll end with this.

24:15

[00 24:37.501 – 00:24:38.781] I think I got like two minutes.

24:18

[00 24:38.781 – 00:24:44.821] So when I had like three months, we went to an anniversary meeting, the Lawrenceville group.

24:23

[00 24:44.821 – 00:24:47.621] And it was their 47th anniversary.

24:26

[00 24:47.621 – 00:24:50.981] And Gene was one of the first members of that meeting.

24:29

[00 24:50.981 – 00:24:57.561] And, uh, it was me and a guy who had six days who dro- he drove both of us to the meeting.

24:37

[00 24:57.561 – 00:25:04.321] And he had the most time at the meeting, so they made him, you know, present the Big Book and to the same guy that came with us in the car.

24:47

[00 25:04.321 – 00:25:12.121] And, um, I remember the speaker sharing something, and it really, uh, gave me a little tingle.

24:53

[00 25:12.121 – 00:25:15.741] And, uh, I started, uh, getting very emotional.

24:56

[00 25:15.741 – 00:25:21.761] You know, that feeling we have where we don't know how to, you know, we don't know what all these emotions are, and we get our emotions back.

25:05

[00 25:21.761 – 00:25:24.541] And I ru- I run outside and I start crying.

25:08

[00 25:24.541 – 00:25:28.361] And he comes to me after the meeting as we're going home.

25:13

[00 25:28.361 – 00:25:37.821] He said, "What happened to you?" I said, "Well, you know, the speaker was sharing, and he was really old, and you're really old." And so I was 26 at the time.

25:23

[00 25:37.821 – 00:25:41.381] "And what it w- how am I gonna stay sober if you die?

25:27

[00 25:41.381 – 00:25:49.181] You know, how, how will I stay sober?" You know, and he said, you know, "Our dependence is not on people.

25:34

[00 25:49.181 – 00:25:51.301] Our dependence is on God.

25:36

[00 25:51.301 – 00:25:57.901] You know, and God will show you the way and the fellowship that you need." You know, and I trusted his word.

25:43

[00 25:57.901 – 00:26:00.201] I trusted everything he said, you know.

25:46

[00 26:00.201 – 00:26:01.181] And that was the thing.

25:48

[00 26:01.181 – 00:26:02.801] That's the power of the alcoholic.

25:50

[00 26:02.801 – 00:26:03.581] We can trust them.

25:52

[00 26:03.581 – 00:26:09.301] You know, the recovered alcoholic that has, that's properly armed with facts and the solutions, you know.

25:58

[00 26:09.301 – 00:26:11.861] So he told me that.

25:59

[00 26:11.861 – 00:26:13.661] And at four and a half years, he passed away.

26:03

[00 26:13.661 – 00:26:17.001] And he was in the hospital, um, that I worked in.

26:07

[00 26:17.001 – 00:26:23.121] And right in that ward, you know, I remember the day before he passed, and I was sitting at his funeral.

26:14

[00 26:23.121 – 00:26:25.561] And, uh, I was okay, man.

26:16

[00 26:25.561 – 00:26:26.661] I was okay.

26:17

[00 26:26.661 – 00:26:28.341] And he was right, you know.

26:20

[00 26:28.341 – 00:26:31.321] And, uh, and I remember the words he said, you know.

26:23

[00 26:31.321 – 00:26:33.101] "God doesn't make junk, man.

26:25

[00 26:33.101 – 00:26:34.821] We make junk out of ourselves," right?

26:28

[00 26:34.821 – 00:26:36.281] And I'll pass with that.

26:30

[00 26:36.281 – 00:26:36.551] Thanks.

26:30

[00 26:36.551 – 00:26:42.121] Thank you so much, Sid.

26:32

[00 26:42.121 – 00:26:49.841] And next up, um, it looks like we lost Mike, so I'm gonna ask if John K., if you can unmute and go next.

26:40

[00 26:49.841 – 00:26:52.941] Okay, unmute.

26:41

[00 26:52.941 – 00:26:54.161] I think I'm unmuted.

26:43

[00 26:54.161 – 00:26:54.461] Yes.

26:43

[00 26:54.461 – 00:26:55.241] Okay.

26:44

[00 26:55.241 – 00:26:56.161] My name's John.

26:45

[00 26:56.161 – 00:26:56.941] I'm an alcoholic.

26:47

[00 26:56.941 – 00:27:02.001] And, uh, my sobriety date is March 16th, '92.

26:50

[00 27:02.001 – 00:27:12.121] And, um, when I tell my story, I, uh, uh, I always say, like when I f- when I came in, I saw a bunch of guys around the room and, uh,

27:00

[00 27:12.121 – 00:27:14.101] I saw one guy with 32 years sober.

27:03

[00 27:14.101 – 00:27:19.641] And I said, "I wanna, I wanted to be sober, but I didn't wanna be that sober." The guy, he, he scared me, you know?

27:11

[00 27:19.641 – 00:27:24.981] And I always say it's the guys with one to five years who helped me the most, 'cause they were talking to me.

27:19

[00 27:24.981 – 00:27:27.481] The other guys I'd listen to, but I was afraid to really talk to.

27:24

[00 27:27.481 – 00:27:35.701] But one of them, his name was Jim Byrne, and, uh, he's the guy with 32 years at the time, and, and now I have 33 years, so I caught up to him.

27:34

[00 27:35.701 – 00:27:39.221] But, um, but while we're sitting here, you know, it's funny.

27:38

[00 27:39.221 – 00:27:41.561] I'm, uh, I have a Howard P.

27:40

[00 27:41.561 – 00:27:42.121] story.

27:41

[00 27:42.121 – 00:27:43.701] I have a Bill Borchette story.

27:43

[00 27:43.701 – 00:27:45.781] And I also have a Sandy Beach story.

27:46

[00 27:45.781 – 00:27:50.141] Which, uh, I didn't realize, you know, I'd been meeting all these giants all along, you know.

27:52

[00 27:50.141 – 00:27:52.951] Um, I moved down to Florida about-

27:54

[00 27:53.188 – 00:27:54.368] 25 years ago now.

27:56

[00 27:54.368 – 00:27:57.068] Um, I, I got sober.

27:57

[00 27:57.068 – 00:28:00.268] Uh, I, I, I, I got a coup- a promotion.

28:01

[00 28:00.268 – 00:28:05.428] Uh, I retired at 55 and moved down here at 56, and, uh, I'm 80 now.

28:05

[00 28:05.428 – 00:28:07.448] So I've, I've been here 25 years.

28:08

[00 28:07.448 – 00:28:14.068] Um, so, so, and, and we have a, um, a roundup here every year, a Space Coast Roundup they call it.

28:15

[00 28:14.068 – 00:28:21.648] I'm right across the Intercoastal Waterway from the Space Center, so, uh, if, if you hear any r- windows rattling, they're sending up another rocket.

28:23

[00 28:21.648 – 00:28:31.748] But, um, so, so, uh, one of my friends was the, um, was the, the host for all our roundups, and she would get all her friends,

28:32

[00 28:31.748 – 00:28:36.098] that meaning me and, and all her husband's friends, to host these, uh, speakers.

28:37

[00 28:36.098 – 00:28:38.188] And, uh, so that's where I met Howard P.

28:40

[00 28:38.188 – 00:28:41.768] and, uh, and, um, uh, and Sandy.

28:42

[00 28:41.768 – 00:28:42.988] Sandy was here all the time.

28:45

[00 28:42.988 – 00:28:44.248] He lived over in Tampa.

28:47

[00 28:44.248 – 00:28:44.948] He was over here.

28:48

[00 28:44.948 – 00:28:47.408] Twice a year he'd be here, you know?

28:51

[00 28:47.408 – 00:28:56.768] But anyway, so, so Jim B., um, he used his last name all the time and, uh, uh, he, he also had a cousin with 22 years, same name.

29:00

[00 28:56.768 – 00:28:56.928] They...

29:01

[00 28:56.928 – 00:28:59.008] I guess they were named after their grandfather.

29:04

[00 28:59.008 – 00:29:06.708] Um, so, um, but we called, you know, we had one we'd, we'd call the Bronx Jim B., and then the real Jim B.

29:12

[00 29:06.708 – 00:29:09.008] That was the one with the 32 years and all.

29:15

[00 29:09.008 – 00:29:15.868] So I moved down here, like, uh, I was about eight years sober, and, uh, I s- and, uh, I, I, I start going to meetings.

29:24

[00 29:15.868 – 00:29:21.448] I meet whole bunch of new people and, uh, I set up a whole bunch of groups that I start going to.

29:31

[00 29:21.448 – 00:29:26.548] And, uh, I, I go to this men's meeting on Sunday mornings, and who's there but Jim B.

29:37

[00 29:26.548 – 00:29:28.328] from, uh, from New York.

29:39

[00 29:28.328 – 00:29:38.608] And, um, I go over and introduce myself to him, a- and it turns out over the years, I ended up taking one of his sons to his first meeting, so that's how I introduced

29:50

[00 29:38.608 – 00:29:39.448] myself to Jim.

29:52

[00 29:39.448 – 00:29:40.848] So Jim loves me.

29:53

[00 29:40.848 – 00:29:42.008] I can do no wrong.

29:55

[00 29:42.008 – 00:29:44.768] So, um, so Jim was here.

29:57

[00 29:44.768 – 00:29:46.008] He, he'd come down to visit.

30:00

[00 29:46.008 – 00:29:56.088] He had another son who, uh, was a merchant marine, and, um, whenever he'd go out to sea, Jim and his wife would come down and stay at his condo, and that's how he, uh, that's how I

30:12

[00 29:56.088 – 00:29:57.188] met him at this men's meeting.

30:14

[00 29:57.188 – 00:30:00.988] But, um, so one day he was down here by himself.

30:18

[00 30:00.988 – 00:30:05.717] His wife couldn't make it, or she was still working, and, um, it, it was St.

30:24

[00 30:05.717 – 00:30:06.448] Paddy's Day.

30:24

[00 30:06.448 – 00:30:08.868] So I, I, I asked him if he'd like to come over.

30:29

[00 30:08.868 – 00:30:12.648] My daughter was making corned beef and cabbage, and I knew he was alone.

30:33

[00 30:12.648 – 00:30:16.168] And I'm not the type of guy to ask people to dinner or anything, you know?

30:39

[00 30:16.168 – 00:30:18.808] But, uh, so I asked my daughter if it would be okay.

30:43

[00 30:18.808 – 00:30:24.368] She said yes, and Jim came and, and, uh, he comes into the room and he says, uh, "Hi, I'm Jim Byrne," you know.

30:51

[00 30:24.368 – 00:30:29.008] He says, uh, "Do you remember your father's drinking?" And my daughter goes, "Oh, yeah." So thanks a lot, Jim.

30:58

[00 30:29.008 – 00:30:34.528] But, uh, but his story was such that, I mean, he got sober in 1960.

31:02

[00 30:34.528 – 00:30:39.368] And, um, last week, uh, you know, Paddy, um, Paddy, um, Paddy P.

31:07

[00 30:39.368 – 00:30:48.948] started, uh, the conversations with a long timer, 50 years or more, and last week was a New York City cop who, um, was on the rubber gun squad.

31:16

[00 30:48.948 – 00:30:52.428] You know, he was, he, he ended up being a lieutenant and in charge of it.

31:22

[00 30:52.428 – 00:30:53.748] But Jim got called, uh...

31:23

[00 30:53.748 – 00:31:03.448] He, he, he was on traffic duty one day and he was drinking at the, at the restaurant across the street, uh, from his post, and he decided to go home.

31:34

[00 31:03.448 – 00:31:08.608] So, so he stopped calling in, and, and they didn't have radios in those days, 1960.

31:39

[00 31:08.608 – 00:31:11.858] So, uh, they start sending out scouts because they figure he was kidnapped or something.

31:44

[00 31:11.858 – 00:31:17.928] So they send a sergeant to his house down in the South Bronx, and the sergeant comes in and he's passed out.

31:51

[00 31:17.928 – 00:31:23.068] And, uh, he, he wakes up, and he takes a swing at the sergeant, so he goes right to Bellevue.

31:58

[00 31:23.068 – 00:31:28.148] So they, they put him in Bellevue, and they take him out, and he's on a rubber gun squad for a while.

32:05

[00 31:28.148 – 00:31:34.868] And, uh, he ends up getting sober and, uh, uh, and he ended up g- lecturing at the, um...

32:12

[00 31:34.868 – 00:31:43.568] I mean, he- he started lecturing at the, uh, at the police academy about, uh, uh, uh, alcohol abuse and, uh, and I'm sure, uh...

32:20

[00 31:43.568 – 00:31:45.948] I, I didn't stick around to talk to Jimmy D.

32:23

[00 31:45.948 – 00:31:48.668] last week, but I'm sure he, he must have worked with him.

32:28

[00 31:48.668 – 00:31:58.678] So, um, so, so, so, um, so, so Jim comes to my, my daughter's house and, uh, he's looking at pictures of my family and stuff,

32:36

[00 31:58.678 – 00:32:02.638] and he sees a picture of my father, and he swears he knows my father.

32:41

[00 32:02.638 – 00:32:06.657] My father got sober in 1964 up, up in the, in New York.

32:45

[00 32:06.657 – 00:32:15.628] And, um, he says he recognized him, and I don't know if he really did or he, uh, he just said that to give me a little moral, uh, courage, e- encouragement.

32:56

[00 32:15.628 – 00:32:20.248] But, um, but it really, uh, it, he was such a good guy.

33:00

[00 32:20.248 – 00:32:24.868] And I, we lost track of him in the, um, uh, with the COVID.

33:05

[00 32:24.868 – 00:32:26.548] You know, he used to come down here once a year.

33:09

[00 32:26.548 – 00:32:34.207] He'd, he'd stop here for a while, then he'd go down and visit his daughter down in Miami, and, um, you know, he'd swing around back up north again.

33:19

[00 32:34.207 – 00:32:39.848] And, uh, so we lost track of him during, uh, COVID, and I just heard a few months ago that he passed away.

33:26

[00 32:39.848 – 00:32:42.848] But, but he was over 90, so he had over 60 years.

33:30

[00 32:42.848 – 00:32:45.828] And, um, but he was just a, he, he, he was a sweetheart.

33:34

[00 32:45.828 – 00:32:52.628] I mean, he had that hard exterior the old-timers had, but he was really a softie at, at, at, uh, at heart, you know?

33:42

[00 32:52.628 – 00:33:01.488] And Howard P., I was just thinking, you know, I, I, I, I was, um, hosting a, a speaker at, uh, the roundup one time, and Howard was one of the other speakers.

33:53

[00 33:01.488 – 00:33:10.648] And, um, I g- I get up to introduce, um, my speaker, and, uh, I tell the, I tell a joke, and it had the place just roaring laughing.

34:03

[00 33:10.648 – 00:33:17.378] And Howard used to own a, uh, comedy club in, in Gilbert, Arizona, when he, uh, when he, when he, he got sober.

34:10

[00 33:17.378 – 00:33:22.938] And he came over afterwards and he, he told me what a great setup it was and the, the layout of the joke and this, that.

34:19

[00 33:22.938 – 00:33:27.468] So about two years later, I'm at another conference, and Howard's there as one of the speakers.

34:25

[00 33:27.468 – 00:33:37.508] And I'm on the elevator and I, and I recognize him right away, but he do- he's looking at me with that quizzical look like, "Where do I know this guy from?" I said, "You don't know me, do you?" He says, "No." I says, "I'm the

34:40

[00 33:37.508 – 00:33:43.868] guy who told that joke about, you know, dating outside AA." He said, "Oh," and he told his wife, "Oh, honey, this is that guy.

34:48

[00 33:43.868 – 00:33:48.228] This is that guy." He was, he was just a wonderful guy, and I, I, I enjoyed him.

34:54

[00 33:48.228 – 00:33:51.848] But, uh, and Bill Borchetta, he was, he was a sweetheart of a guy.

34:59

[00 33:51.848 – 00:34:01.048] You know, like, up in New York, uh, group anniversaries, they usually ask some noted speaker to come and speak and, and I, I had a running buddy.

35:08

[00 34:01.048 – 00:34:03.488] His, his, his name was Steve.

35:11

[00 34:03.488 – 00:34:13.608] And his, his motto was, "If it's free, it's for me." So we'd go to all these eating meetings and, uh, and, and Bill used to, uh, used to be br- you know, they'd ask him to come and speak

35:24

[00 34:13.608 – 00:34:14.248] at all these things.

35:25

[00 34:14.248 – 00:34:16.798] We met him and his wife, his wife Bernadette.

35:28

[00 34:16.798 – 00:34:25.638] She had beautiful long white hair, I mean, down, down to her butt, and he used to call her, her his raven-haired beauty, 'cause at one time it was all black, you know?

35:39

[00 34:25.638 – 00:34:28.388] But, uh, but Bill was, you know, he was a wonderful guy.

35:43

[00 34:28.388 – 00:34:29.148] And I've heard...

35:45

[00 34:29.148 – 00:34:39.468] You know, I loved his story because, um, if you listen to his whole drunk log, getting sober and everything before he ever wrote the, the story about, uh,

35:54

[00 34:39.468 – 00:34:42.948] you know, My Name Is Bill W., and then he wrote Lois's, uh, story.

35:59

[00 34:42.948 – 00:34:48.968] But, uh, it's just a wonderful story of recovery before he ever gets into, uh, producing movies and all that.

36:06

[00 34:48.968 – 00:34:51.198] He worked on Tell- Dog Day Afternoon and-

36:09

[00 34:51.534 – 00:34:54.074] Kansas City Bomber, he talks about Raquel Welch.

36:11

[00 34:54.074 – 00:34:55.334] Not, not too bad.

36:13

[00 34:55.334 – 00:35:00.894] But, uh, so, um, and Sandy, of course, I used to see him all the time.

36:18

[00 35:00.894 – 00:35:05.094] And, uh, you know, he- last time I saw him was over in Orlando also at a speaker meeting.

36:25

[00 35:05.094 – 00:35:06.354] He was in a wheelchair by then.

36:27

[00 35:06.354 – 00:35:09.374] But, um, he, uh, he was just great.

36:30

[00 35:09.374 – 00:35:15.614] So anyways, yeah, you know, I, I've rubbed elbows with these people, and it just, it just amazed me that we're sitting here talking about them.

36:39

[00 35:15.614 – 00:35:19.174] And, you know, it's just, we just accepted, like, "Oh, he's one of the guys," you know.

36:45

[00 35:19.174 – 00:35:20.554] Just ...

36:45

[00 35:20.554 – 00:35:22.394] But w- wonderful people, wonderful people.

36:48

[00 35:22.394 – 00:35:23.623] Great, great heroes.

36:49

[00 35:23.623 – 00:35:30.194] You know, people to look up to that, that, you know, I, I didn't put them on pedestals, but I think about it now and I sure do.

36:58

[00 35:30.194 – 00:35:31.894] So, so thanks for letting me share.

37:01

[00 35:31.894 – 00:35:32.394] That's enough.

37:02

[00 35:32.394 – 00:35:32.734] Thanks.

37:02

[00 35:32.734 – 00:35:37.194] Thank you so much, John.

37:04

[00 35:37.194 – 00:35:39.154] And next up we have Tom.

37:06

[00 35:39.154 – 00:35:40.574] You can unmute.

37:08

[00 35:40.574 – 00:35:45.954] My name is Tom.

37:09

[00 35:45.954 – 00:35:46.894] I'm an alcoholic.

37:10

[00 35:46.894 – 00:35:49.474] Can you hear me all right?

37:13

[00 35:49.474 – 00:35:50.054] Okay.

37:13

[00 35:50.054 – 00:35:55.474] Yeah, my sobriety date is May the 12th of 1966.

37:17

[00 35:55.474 – 00:36:05.494] So, you know, I was told that everybody on here had 60 years sober, and I thought, "Well, you know, I only got 59." But, you know,

37:25

[00 36:05.494 – 00:36:06.054] what the hell?

37:26

[00 36:06.054 – 00:36:13.654] Uh, I like to look back on some of the things that happened when I first came into AA.

37:32

[00 36:13.654 – 00:36:18.954] First of all, in those years, AA was almost a secret society.

37:37

[00 36:18.954 – 00:36:21.174] Nobody knew about it, you know?

37:39

[00 36:21.174 – 00:36:25.794] And, uh, so I was fortunate and I was introduced to AA.

37:43

[00 36:25.794 – 00:36:35.933] I called up on the telephone and I talked to a guy, and, uh, basically he said, "If, uh,

37:49

[00 36:35.934 – 00:36:40.754] if you're writing a term paper about alcoholism, try the Library of Congress.

37:54

[00 36:40.754 – 00:36:46.134] But if you got a problem with alcohol, we're here to help you." And that was my introduction to AA.

38:01

[00 36:46.134 – 00:36:49.004] And fortunately, they sent me to a meeting.

38:03

[00 36:49.004 – 00:36:52.254] I was living in, uh, in Maryland, just outside of DC.

38:07

[00 36:52.254 – 00:37:00.474] And they sent me to a meeting, and it was in Chevy Chase, Virginia- Chevy Chase, Maryland, right at the DC line.

38:15

[00 37:00.474 – 00:37:04.534] And I went to that meeting, and I didn't know what the hell I was getting into.

38:20

[00 37:04.534 – 00:37:09.034] I'm sober from my second meeting of AA.

38:23

[00 37:09.034 – 00:37:13.894] I went to that first meeting and I said, "Those people are crazy.

38:28

[00 37:13.894 – 00:37:15.714] You know, they're fanatics.

38:29

[00 37:15.714 – 00:37:19.214] Uh, they wanna quit drinking." I didn't wanna quit drinking.

38:33

[00 37:19.214 – 00:37:21.894] I just wanted to find a way to drink safely.

38:36

[00 37:21.894 – 00:37:24.834] You know, and, uh, two guys grabbed me.

38:39

[00 37:24.834 – 00:37:31.034] There at, at the middle of the meeting, they said, "Is anybody new?" I wasn't gonna expose myself.

38:45

[00 37:31.034 – 00:37:31.934] I shut up.

38:46

[00 37:31.934 – 00:37:41.994] But at the end of the meeting, they evidently spotted me for new, being new, and, uh, they grabbed me by the neck and cornered me, and they talked at

38:56

[00 37:41.994 – 00:37:42.834] me for a while.

38:58

[00 37:42.834 – 00:37:45.474] And all I wanted to do was get the hell out of there.

39:02

[00 37:45.474 – 00:37:54.054] But I made the mistake of giving them my phone number, and those bastards called me and they kept saying, "Well, go to a meeting.

39:11

[00 37:54.054 – 00:37:56.634] You wanna join us?" And I'd say, "You don't understand.

39:14

[00 37:56.634 – 00:37:57.574] I'm very busy.

39:15

[00 37:57.574 – 00:37:58.934] I got a family." Blah, blah, blah.

39:18

[00 37:58.934 – 00:37:59.514] Yeah.

39:19

[00 37:59.514 – 00:38:04.514] And then finally I said, "Ah, screw it," and I joined them, and I've been sober ever since.

39:25

[00 38:04.514 – 00:38:10.894] And, uh, I'm just extremely grateful that I met those two guys that first night.

39:30

[00 38:10.894 – 00:38:14.294] They were very, uh, they were very well known in local AA.

39:34

[00 38:14.294 – 00:38:22.253] One of them was, uh, Ed Rumrill, another one was John Patterson, and, uh, I'm extremely grateful that I met those guys.

39:41

[00 38:22.253 – 00:38:27.614] Now, I've been in the military, uh, I, I'm retired now.

39:45

[00 38:27.614 – 00:38:33.074] But most of my sober time, I was in the military, and I was literally all over the world.

39:52

[00 38:33.074 – 00:38:43.193] And this was before the internet existed, and it was almost impossible to make contact with AA outside of the United

39:59

[00 38:43.194 – 00:38:44.514] States or the UK.

40:00

[00 38:44.514 – 00:38:48.924] And Paris had, Paris and, uh, Rome had meetings, but nobody else.

40:04

[00 38:48.924 – 00:38:51.594] And so now we're kind of spoiled.

40:07

[00 38:51.594 – 00:38:57.874] We can go almost anywhere, or we can get on the internet and find a meeting, and I'm extremely grateful for that.

40:14

[00 38:57.874 – 00:39:02.474] And whenever I travel, I try to find a meeting and go there.

40:19

[00 39:02.474 – 00:39:05.134] Uh, there's a couple of good reasons for that.

40:22

[00 39:05.134 – 00:39:06.874] One of them is, you know, I love AA.

40:25

[00 39:06.874 – 00:39:11.454] But the other thing is those people can tell you where the good restaurants are.

40:30

[00 39:11.454 – 00:39:17.714] And there are all kinds of side benefits to getting sober, and that's one example of them.

40:36

[00 39:17.714 – 00:39:20.534] Uh, I'm glad I made it to the meeting tonight.

40:39

[00 39:20.534 – 00:39:22.254] Uh, it's good to see you all.

40:42

[00 39:22.254 – 00:39:25.294] I'm extremely grateful for my sobriety.

40:44

[00 39:25.294 – 00:39:32.774] Uh, because of my military days, at one point during Vietnam, uh, there were no meetings.

40:50

[00 39:32.774 – 00:39:36.614] I was, I was stationed in the Philippines, and I was in and out of Vietnam.

40:55

[00 39:36.614 – 00:39:39.154] Uh, and there were no meetings.

40:57

[00 39:39.154 – 00:39:44.214] And I went two years without a meeting, and I never ever wanna have to do that again.

41:03

[00 39:44.214 – 00:39:49.634] You know, I stayed sober, but it was a, it was not a fun situation.

41:08

[00 39:49.634 – 00:39:52.314] But anyway, I'm glad you are all here.

41:11

[00 39:52.314 – 00:39:55.794] I'm glad I'm here, and thank you for giving me your opportunity to say hi.

41:16

[00 39:55.794 – 00:39:56.674] Thank you.

41:17

[00 39:56.674 – 00:40:00.894] Thank you so much, Tom.

41:19

[00 40:00.894 – 00:40:10.894] And we've still got about 20 minutes left, so if we have, uh, any other volunteers that would like to share some stories, please, uh, use the,

41:28

[00 40:10.894 – 00:40:16.254] the raise hand function, and I'll, uh, invite you to unmute and, uh, share a story.

41:33

[00 40:16.254 – 00:40:27.974] Well,

41:34

[00 40:27.974 – 00:40:28.834] I guess there's ...

41:35

[00 40:28.834 – 00:40:32.394] Oh, Dave, you can go ahead and unmute.

41:38

[00 40:32.394 – 00:40:35.754] Thanks for jumping in.

41:40

[00 40:35.754 – 00:40:35.764] No worries.

41:41

[00 40:35.764 – 00:40:36.044] Thanks, Tim.

41:42

[00 40:36.044 – 00:40:38.334] My name's Dave, alcoholic.

41:43

[00 40:38.334 – 00:40:41.114] Uh, I got sober in 1994.

41:45

[00 40:41.114 – 00:40:44.394] But there was a ...

41:47

[00 40:44.394 – 00:40:50.554] You know, in Eureka Springs, uh, you know, I was about six years sober, I guess.

41:52

[00 40:50.554 – 00:40:55.494] And there was, uh, Charlie and Joe were down there.

41:56

[00 40:55.494 – 00:41:06.154] And, uh, a guy that, up here in Kansas City that, uh, told me about Charlie and Joe, you know, that

42:03

[00 41:06.154 – 00:41:08.154] ga- gave me some tapes of theirs.

42:05

[00 41:08.154 – 00:41:13.334] And I, and I met them down there, and that was pretty cool, you know.

42:10

[00 41:13.334 – 00:41:16.204] And, uh, there was one other lady there.

42:13

[00 41:16.204 – 00:41:17.694] She spoke.

42:14

[00 41:17.694 – 00:41:27.774] Her name was Lorna Kelly, and, uh, she was the first, uh, auctioneer on the Sotheby's

42:20

[00 41:27.774 – 00:41:29.434] in New York.

42:21

[00 41:29.434 – 00:41:35.134] She was the first woman in ba- basically in the world, first auctioneer.

42:25

[00 41:35.134 – 00:41:46.594] And, uh, but her story about m- uh, she, uh, met Mother Teresa in,

42:30

[00 41:46.594 – 00:41:49.474] uh, Calcutta, I think it was-

42:32

[00 41:49.735 – 00:41:51.175] I can't remember a lot of that.

42:35

[00 41:51.175 – 00:42:01.195] But she, I'll never forget that she, uh, went to, they were gonna have communion, and she was in the room with, uh, Mother

42:43

[00 42:01.195 – 00:42:01.975] Teresa.

42:43

[00 42:01.975 – 00:42:11.415] And, uh, and then they, they, they were gonna get the Eucharist and, uh, and they, she, they passed her the wine.

42:51

[00 42:11.415 – 00:42:16.155] And she's there, "Oh, I can't do this." You know, and she was in there, and Mother...

42:57

[00 42:16.155 – 00:42:22.675] And she passed it on, and then told Mother Teresa later on she was an alcoholic.

43:02

[00 42:22.675 – 00:42:25.275] She couldn't drink any of that wine.

43:04

[00 42:25.275 – 00:42:36.225] And sh- Mother Teresa said to her, "Well, that's, that's great, Lorna, that, that you're protecting your, uh, sobriety." And,

43:11

[00 42:36.225 – 00:42:39.455] you know, I remember these stories, you know.

43:14

[00 42:39.455 – 00:42:49.495] Um, and then I, you know, ran across Clancy up in Oklahoma one time, and he signed a book of, uh,

43:21

[00 42:49.495 – 00:42:56.375] uh, one of the books that, uh, Chuck C- he had wrote, uh.

43:26

[00 42:56.375 – 00:43:06.535] Anyways, uh, I had him sign that book and, and, uh, I had met some people, one of my that were

43:33

[00 43:06.535 – 00:43:09.445] in Kansas that knew them.

43:34

[00 43:09.445 – 00:43:14.875] Sponsorships, I didn't qualify too much for that.

43:37

[00 43:14.875 – 00:43:18.795] I got fired from the sponsor, but 'cause I didn't call him.

43:41

[00 43:18.795 – 00:43:28.855] And, uh, and, uh, so he told me, called me and said, "You nev- you n- no lead- no longer

43:48

[00 43:28.855 – 00:43:30.415] need to call me.

43:50

[00 43:30.415 – 00:43:34.335] I'm no longer your sponsor." And what did I do?

43:53

[00 43:34.335 – 00:43:39.695] I, I called him up and I says, "Well, I can call you, but I'm not, you're no longer my sponsor.

44:00

[00 43:39.695 – 00:43:49.735] That's fine." But anyways, but i- the old-timers, you know, just reminded me of them people I've, I've run across through the years,

44:08

[00 43:49.735 – 00:43:50.815] you know.

44:09

[00 43:50.815 – 00:43:57.495] And, uh, that David A, I, I ran across him one time a- when I was early in sobriety.

44:15

[00 43:57.495 – 00:44:01.235] He was speaking up by the airport in Kansas Ci- City here.

44:19

[00 44:01.235 – 00:44:11.255] And he had met Bill Wilson, and it was so cool because after I, at the end, end of the speaking, I got to go up there and shake his

44:29

[00 44:11.255 – 00:44:11.655] hand.

44:30

[00 44:11.655 – 00:44:21.255] And I'm there, "Well, at least I got to shake someone, uh, someone that shook Bill Wilson's hand." So, you know, that was cool.

44:38

[00 44:21.255 – 00:44:26.334] And, uh, so anyways, uh, I'm gonna pass there, Tim.

44:41

[00 44:26.334 – 00:44:27.135] Thank you.

44:42

[00 44:27.135 – 00:44:30.055] All right.

44:43

[00 44:30.055 – 00:44:33.355] Thank you so much, Dave, for jumping in here.

44:47

[00 44:33.355 – 00:44:41.695] And, um, if anyone else would like to, to share some stories, please raise your hand and I will, uh, invite you to unmute.

44:55

[00 44:41.695 – 00:44:44.715] And, uh, next up, though...

44:56

[00 44:44.715 – 00:44:48.435] Oh, Terry, you can go ahead and unmute.

44:59

[00 44:48.435 – 00:44:52.454] Hi, I'm Terry.

45:01

[00 44:52.454 – 00:44:53.535] I'm an alcoholic.

45:02

[00 44:53.535 – 00:44:54.575] Hi, Terry.

45:03

[00 44:54.575 – 00:44:58.475] Ca- can I speak without my picture because- Yeah ...

45:06

[00 44:58.475 – 00:44:59.275] I'm okay?

45:07

[00 44:59.275 – 00:44:59.595] Okay.

45:08

[00 44:59.595 – 00:44:59.725] Yes.

45:08

[00 44:59.725 – 00:45:00.495] Can you hear me?

45:10

[00 45:00.495 – 00:45:01.155] Yes.

45:10

[00 45:01.155 – 00:45:04.055] I love Lorna Kelly.

45:12

[00 45:04.055 – 00:45:06.615] I, I heard her speak one time.

45:15

[00 45:06.615 – 00:45:12.455] She was, um, she had a blue strip in her hair, and she was so cool.

45:20

[00 45:12.455 – 00:45:22.395] And she said she went to Calcutta because she couldn't do the third step, and she didn't know how to turn her will and life over to the care of God.

45:30

[00 45:22.395 – 00:45:32.435] And, um, she went on a camel ride in the desert, and the lead camel took off and left her in the desert, and she thought she was gonna die.

45:40

[00 45:32.435 – 00:45:35.475] And she asked God, "Please, God, don't.

45:43

[00 45:35.475 – 00:45:36.655] I don't wanna die out here.

45:45

[00 45:36.655 – 00:45:38.315] It's 105-degree heat.

45:46

[00 45:38.315 – 00:45:46.835] I'm gonna die." And sure enough, uh, she got back to the corral, just like when you go horseback riding.

45:53

[00 45:46.835 – 00:45:48.115] The camel knew the way.

45:55

[00 45:48.115 – 00:45:52.315] So she, she wrote a book, The Camel Knows the Way.

45:59

[00 45:52.315 – 00:45:59.355] And, uh, she was so, she was so beautiful, and she passed away so young.

46:04

[00 45:59.355 – 00:46:01.735] Um, she met Mother Teresa.

46:06

[00 46:01.735 – 00:46:05.875] She said, "You people can help another alcoholic.

46:09

[00 46:05.875 – 00:46:12.195] I can't." She said, "I can help lepers, whatever, but you people are the people that can help another alcoholic.

46:15

[00 46:12.195 – 00:46:20.575] You know, you have the power to help another alcoholic." And, um, these, uh, people that you're talking about, I think I...

46:23

[00 46:20.575 – 00:46:27.255] You know, I'm in New York, so I think I met Jim Byrne, and I w- used to hang out with Liz Bailey.

46:30

[00 46:27.255 – 00:46:37.335] I prayed to get to know her better at h- her, um, every y- New Year she used to speak, and she, she just so, she just passed away.

46:40

[00 46:37.335 – 00:46:38.835] She was 100 years old.

46:41

[00 46:38.835 – 00:46:43.475] She had like 60 years or something.

46:44

[00 46:43.475 – 00:46:52.575] Sure enough, she came walking into Intergroup, where I answer the phones, and she started coming to meetings there 'cause she lived right in the next town, Jamaica.

46:53

[00 46:52.575 – 00:47:01.835] And I used to drive her back and forth to home, and I felt like when I spent the day with her, I felt like I went on a retreat.

47:03

[00 47:01.835 – 00:47:02.395] She was...

47:04

[00 47:02.395 – 00:47:09.535] I, I took her to Bloomingdale's one time, and she had to buy a mattress pad 'cause she had a Murphy, she had a Murphy bed.

47:12

[00 47:09.535 – 00:47:16.895] She had a little studio in Jamaica, and she had a Murphy bed, and she needed the mattress pad to make it more comfortable.

47:20

[00 47:16.895 – 00:47:19.035] And she was such a doll.

47:23

[00 47:19.035 – 00:47:22.095] And, and I brought her to Bloomingdale's.

47:25

[00 47:22.095 – 00:47:25.475] She started hugging and kissing up everybody in Bloomingdale's.

47:28

[00 47:25.475 – 00:47:27.495] And we got in the elevator.

47:30

[00 47:27.495 – 00:47:32.135] I turned around, and everybody was waving goodbye to, to us like we were in The Wizard of Oz.

47:37

[00 47:32.135 – 00:47:34.795] She turned around the whole floor.

47:39

[00 47:34.795 – 00:47:36.455] And I said, "I'm g- She walks the walk.

47:42

[00 47:36.455 – 00:47:41.235] I'm gonna follow her anywhere." So it was the answer m- to my prayers.

47:47

[00 47:41.235 – 00:47:43.015] You know, I got to spend a little time.

47:50

[00 47:43.015 – 00:47:46.955] You know, I woulda had to move in here if I wasn't taking care of my granddaughter.

47:56

[00 47:46.955 – 00:47:51.055] And, uh, she moved with her daugh- with, with her s- daughter, which was better.

48:01

[00 47:51.055 – 00:47:55.745] But, um, but it's just, uh, all these giants that's...

48:05

[00 47:55.745 – 00:48:04.535] And I love, I, every night I go to sleep listening to the- these stories, like bedtime stories, you know, which is, uh, it means so much.

48:14

[00 48:04.535 – 00:48:06.395] And I us- used to live in Buffalo.

48:16

[00 48:06.395 – 00:48:08.915] Buffalo's where I became an alcoholic.

48:19

[00 48:08.915 – 00:48:15.955] I used to live off Main Street, uh, and by Cassidy's.

48:22

[00 48:15.955 – 00:48:25.715] And, um, and, uh, so and then I found a book that George McGovern's daughter died, uh, freezing in the snow.

48:29

[00 48:25.715 – 00:48:33.735] My girlfriend used to pull me out of the snow after I got kicked out of the bar, and if it wasn't for her, I would have froze like Terry McGovern.

48:40

[00 48:33.735 – 00:48:36.615] And, um, I don't know.

48:42

[00 48:36.615 – 00:48:43.395] There's just so many giants in AA, so much miracles, you know, that I, I just love being part of this.

48:49

[00 48:43.395 – 00:48:46.265] And all this, I'll have 40 years, you know?

48:51

[00 48:46.265 – 00:48:47.895] And they saved my li-

48:53

[00 48:48.302 – 00:48:54.042] You know, thank you Thank you so much, Terry.

48:57

[00 48:54.042 – 00:49:03.922] And now, and it, it's perfect timing that Carol remembered that she'd like to share a story about Clancy and someone else.

49:04

[00 49:03.922 – 00:49:05.662] So I'm gonna invite Carol back in.

49:06

[00 49:05.662 – 00:49:06.802] Thanks, Tim.

49:07

[00 49:06.802 – 00:49:07.682] And, yes.

49:08

[00 49:07.682 – 00:49:08.492] Hi, everybody.

49:09

[00 49:08.492 – 00:49:09.302] I'm an alcoholic.

49:11

[00 49:09.302 – 00:49:10.062] My name's Carol.

49:12

[00 49:10.062 – 00:49:12.202] I remembered a couple stories.

49:14

[00 49:12.202 – 00:49:22.472] When, when I was almost six weeks sober in Fort Worth, Clancy came and spoke to our group, and he shared a story that I still remember, and it's one of the first ones

49:25

[00 49:22.472 – 00:49:25.382] that somebody told that I really identified.

49:28

[00 49:25.382 – 00:49:35.641] And he shared this story about when babies are born, they go down this conveyor belt, and God has this magic wand, and he taps the babies, and they get a coat of Teflon.

49:39

[00 49:35.641 – 00:49:45.102] But he said when he went past God, somebody tapped God on the shoulder, and God turned his head, and Clancy slipped by, and he didn't get his coat of Teflon.

49:49

[00 49:45.102 – 00:49:46.862] He was 29 years sober.

49:50

[00 49:46.862 – 00:49:54.942] And then this lady from Dallas that I knew, Joanne, she goes over to Clancy, and she says, "Boy, I haven't seen you in a while.

49:59

[00 49:54.942 – 00:50:04.962] I am only almost 24 years sober." And I went over to her, and I said, "Excuse me, ma'am, do you know what you just said?" And she said, "No, what?" I said, "You said

50:10

[00 50:04.962 – 00:50:15.022] you're only almost 24 years sober." I said, "I'm only almost six weeks sober." And she said, "Honey, don't ever apologize for any

50:18

[00 50:15.022 – 00:50:17.942] length of sobriety." She said, "Sobrieties like marbles.

50:20

[00 50:17.942 – 00:50:28.002] You can't stack them." And she said, "If I drank today, I wouldn't have almost 24 years of sobriety." And, and I talked to Clancy afterwards, and

50:29

[00 50:28.002 – 00:50:38.202] for 11 years, while they had cassette tapes, I sent Clancy money every month, and he sent me cassette tape of their Wednesday night Pacific Group speaker.

50:38

[00 50:38.202 – 00:50:47.702] And so I got to hear all these people, and I got to meet Johnny Harris, and I got to go to see Clancy get his 30-year medallion in California.

50:48

[00 50:47.702 – 00:50:55.642] And when I got there, I called him and told him I was at my cousin's house, and he sent somebody to come get me named Don.

50:57

[00 50:55.642 – 00:51:01.102] And I went to the meeting, and I went to Clancy's yard and, and did all that.

51:02

[00 51:01.102 – 00:51:03.742] And then I met the, you know, a few months later ...

51:06

[00 51:03.742 – 00:51:10.182] Well, that was October that I was there, and then I went to the International in Seattle.

51:12

[00 51:10.182 – 00:51:20.202] And I'm at a bus stop waiting for a shuttle bus, and a man comes over to me, and he says, "Were you at the Pacific Group in October?" And I said, "I was." And he said, "I'm

51:24

[00 51:20.202 – 00:51:27.491] the one that picked you up and took you to the meeting." And I just start crying 'cause of these God stories that we have, you know?

51:33

[00 51:27.491 – 00:51:31.562] And, um, I just thought that was important.

51:36

[00 51:31.562 – 00:51:37.262] And then when I was new, I was at a conference in Oklahoma I went to every year, and there was a guy named Hal M.

51:45

[00 51:37.262 – 00:51:41.742] that was there, and we got talking after about the book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

51:49

[00 51:41.742 – 00:51:48.942] And, and I said, "I love the story To Handle Sobriety." And he said that's his sponsor, Bob Pearson.

51:56

[00 51:48.942 – 00:51:56.182] A- and, uh, and I said, "Really?" And he gave me his address, and I'm probably a year or so sober, and I wrote to Mr.

52:04

[00 51:56.182 – 00:51:58.062] Pearson, and he wrote back.

52:06

[00 51:58.062 – 00:52:04.502] And this really nice letter, and I kept it in my big book, and it's in archives in New York now.

52:13

[00 52:04.502 – 00:52:07.042] But, I mean, it just touched my heart.

52:16

[00 52:07.042 – 00:52:15.562] And another story, I met C- oh, and Elsa, Elsa Chamberlain spoke at the Al-Anon Fort Worth state convention in Texas.

52:23

[00 52:15.562 – 00:52:22.502] And I got to meet her, and she invited me up to her room, and I got to sit and talk to her and call her on the phone.

52:33

[00 52:22.502 – 00:52:31.542] And she was in her mid-90s, and her health wasn't good, but she still had that sparkle and that enthusiasm, and, and I just loved it.

52:42

[00 52:31.542 – 00:52:37.542] And so I get to have all these really cool experiences that I could have missed, you know?

52:48

[00 52:37.542 – 00:52:41.382] And Rich McWha go, and he said he doesn't regret things he did.

52:52

[00 52:41.382 – 00:52:42.942] He regrets things he didn't do.

52:55

[00 52:42.942 – 00:52:47.742] Like, I wished I asked my sponsor from 1950 who her sponsor was.

52:59

[00 52:47.742 – 00:52:55.982] I know they didn't have many meetings back then, and I know it was different back then, but I am really grateful.

53:06

[00 52:55.982 – 00:53:01.622] And so thank you for triggering some of these memories for me to share with all of you.

53:12

[00 53:01.622 – 00:53:03.802] You know, it's really special.

53:14

[00 53:03.802 – 00:53:09.742] And like I say, I have 37 years, and I couldn't even imagine that when I got sober.

53:20

[00 53:09.742 – 00:53:10.762] I thought a year.

53:21

[00 53:10.762 – 00:53:14.942] You know, I tell you, when I was a year sober, I got my one-year medallion.

53:27

[00 53:14.942 – 00:53:19.602] And, and I'm standing at the podium, and they called the next person up, and they had two years.

53:33

[00 53:19.602 – 00:53:24.982] And they said they thought their first year was the hardest, but they realized their second year was the hardest.

53:40

[00 53:24.982 – 00:53:32.661] And I remember standing there going, "I don't want to go into two." I had a sponsor that got me through the steps, like, in a couple months, and we worked really hard.

53:51

[00 53:32.661 – 00:53:39.662] And the next person, they got up, 'cause God knew what I needed to hear, and they said, "It's only as hard as you let it be," is what he learned.

54:01

[00 53:39.662 – 00:53:41.642] And, and that's been my experience.

54:03

[00 53:41.642 – 00:53:42.742] I also got to meet Dr.

54:05

[00 53:42.742 – 00:53:44.922] Paul when I was two years sober.

54:08

[00 53:44.922 – 00:53:46.802] I have a bookmark he and Max signed.

54:11

[00 53:46.802 – 00:53:56.462] And he said when he wrote his story, he never thought that the acceptance that everybody quotes so much, and he said that's not how he intended it.

54:20

[00 53:56.462 – 00:53:59.742] But what he did share stuck with me, and I use it often.

54:24

[00 53:59.742 – 00:54:03.272] And he said, "We get a choice." He said, "I get a choice.

54:29

[00 54:03.272 – 00:54:11.342] Do I want to be a victim or a hero in my life story?" And I want to be a hero, 'cause being a victim kept me drinking.

54:38

[00 54:11.342 – 00:54:15.262] So thank you, Tim, for letting me share a few more memories.

54:42

[00 54:15.262 – 00:54:18.722] Thank you so much, Carol.

54:44

[00 54:18.722 – 00:54:26.002] And thank you also to Sid, John, and Tom, and Dave.

54:48

[00 54:26.002 – 00:54:29.522] I appreciate you all jumping in and sharing your stories tonight.

54:52

[00 54:29.522 – 00:54:34.352] And, uh, just a reminder, next Tuesday, we have Kesting C.

54:56

[00 54:34.352 – 00:54:39.902] from New York that will be, uh, sharing a presentation on The Little Red Book.

55:01

[00 54:39.902 – 00:54:42.022] So join us again next week.

55:03

[00 54:42.022 – 00:54:46.742] And also, I do want to let everyone know what else is coming up in July.

55:08

[00 54:46.742 – 00:54:49.842] On the 15th, we'll have Gary N.

55:11

[00 54:49.842 – 00:54:54.662] presenting a updated version of the Bobbie B.

55:14

[00 54:54.662 – 00:54:59.762] presentation with a focus on her involvement with the traditions.

55:17

[00 54:59.762 – 00:55:02.562] So that will be on July 15th.

55:20

[00 55:02.562 – 00:55:06.862] And on July 22nd, we are going to have Nancy K.

55:24

[00 55:06.862 – 00:55:10.582] and friends from, uh, Nancy K.

55:26

[00 55:10.582 – 00:55:12.142] from California.

55:27

[00 55:12.142 – 00:55:22.362] She and a group of people are going to the International in Vancouver this week, and on the 22nd, they're gonna do a little panel sharing about their experience

55:37

[00 55:22.362 – 00:55:23.442] at the International.

55:38

[00 55:23.442 – 00:55:28.962] So that'll be on the 22nd, and then the 29th will be, uh, Penny P.

55:43

[00 55:28.962 – 00:55:31.582] back with a conversation with a long-timer.

55:45

[00 55:31.582 – 00:55:35.242] So hope to see you guys here for the rest of the month.

55:50

[00 55:35.242 – 00:55:39.102] And for anyone going to the International, enjoy.

55:53

[00 55:39.102 – 00:55:41.842] And, uh, thank you all for being here.

55:56

[00 55:41.842 – 00:55:45.562] I will, uh, close the meeting and allow everyone to unmute.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

Recollections of Long-Timers presented by Recollections of Long-Timers – 2025-07-01

Recollections of Long-Timers presented by Recollections of Long-Timers – 2025-07-01

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