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I’m an alcoholic and my name is Larry. I introduce myself this way because first and foremost I am an alcoholic.
I won’t go into a long drunk-a-log. I will touch on a few significant incidents in my long journey to sobriety. I grew up in a small town in the mid west. My family life was typical for that area. None of my family drank and in my opinion was excessively religious.
I got drunk for the first time at the age of 12. I did it because my friends
did. Amazingly I liked it. Go figure. I continued to get drunk when I could. When I joined the Marine Corps in 1973 it was on. I now know that sometime in that year is when I crossed that invisible line. I stayed in for 7 years. During that time I got married. It lasted 14 years and we had 2 sons.
The drinking took its toll during that time and the last 5 years of that we lived in separate houses. Needless to say we finally went our separate ways.
I got my first DUI in 1993. I had just gotten married again and had a new baby girl. I was on my way back from picking up my youngest from my ex. He got to go to jail with dad until grandpa could come and get him. He was 11 years old. You would think that would have stopped me. Well it didn’t.
It continued to get worse. By the time I got my second DUI in 2001 it was an all day everyday thing. My marriage was going away, the job I’d had for 12 years was about gone and my kids hated me. I hired a good lawyer and got off pretty easy by the standards here in Texas. I remember standing in front of the judge and he asked both lawyers a question. No AA ? I’m going to add that to his plea agreement. Three times a week for 18 months.
I remember my first meeting. I walked in late trying to hide. That didn’t work and I got welcomed at the door. At the end of the meeting they asked if I wanted a desire chip. They said it was free and to shut them up, I took it. That was April 30, 2001. I continued to make meetings and the 3 I was told to make a week turned into 5, 6 and even more. It took me 3 sponsors and almost 18 months to work the 12 SIMPLE STEPS. I think the only thing I did right was not drink.
Today my life is so much different. I have a power greater than myself that I talk to on a daily basis. I still make a lot of meetings and work with others. I have even been elected to be a trusted servant. Go figure. Six years ago I couldn’t be trusted to do anything. I even have a few friends today and I am building a new relationship with my children. By God’s grace I’ll have six years on April 30.
I have a lot of things to thank for this. My Higher Power, the people in AA and the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous just to name a few. I also wish to thank all the people here in Recovery Realm. You are very special to me. I have been coming here for a while. I’m a shy and quiet person and have a hard time opening up to anyone. It’s was time for you to know a little about me. Again thanks for being here.
It’s a good day to be sober
Larry |