Page 14 - AA NEWS AUGUST 2019

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Continued from page 1 Continued from page 1
People changed over the years but People changed over the years but
Breaking the Cycle of Breaking the Cycle of
always a few familiar faces. always a few familiar faces.
Alcoholism Alcoholism
This weekend we didn’t arrive until This weekend we didn’t arrive until
Saturday and there wasn’t the large Saturday and there wasn’t the large
Early in my first marriage I could Early in my first marriage I could
number of RV’s as in the past, but the number of RV’s as in the past, but the
easily rationalize all my alcoholic easily rationalize all my alcoholic
feeling of coming home was as strong feeling of coming home was as strong
behaviors. These things meant nothing behaviors. These things meant nothing
as ever. Greetings from many familiar as ever. Greetings from many familiar
to me, at the time, but that all changed to me, at the time, but that all changed
faces and new folks too. There’s a level faces and new folks too. There’s a level
the day that I became a father. It didn’t the day that I became a father. It didn’t
of comfort to a familiar meeting room of comfort to a familiar meeting room
change my behavior, but it did affect change my behavior, but it did affect
(even if it is a gymnasium); the (even if it is a gymnasium); the
my conscience. From that day forward my conscience. From that day forward
Saturday night steak dinner you can Saturday night steak dinner you can
I felt guilty about my inability to be a I felt guilty about my inability to be a
cut with your plastic knife; catching cut with your plastic knife; catching
good father and as the result, my only good father and as the result, my only
up with life events, happy and not up with life events, happy and not
son developed problems as bad as, or son developed problems as bad as, or
quite so happy; seeing the growth and quite so happy; seeing the growth and
worse than mine. My wife and I worse than mine. My wife and I
serenity in others reminding me I have serenity in others reminding me I have
separated and were divorced within separated and were divorced within
some growth and serenity too. It’s hard some growth and serenity too. It’s hard
two years of his birth and I got sober two years of his birth and I got sober
to find the words to describe that to find the words to describe that
one year after that and have been one year after that and have been
feeling of ease and comfort that came feeling of ease and comfort that came
sober ever since. My current wife of sober ever since. My current wife of
with me as we pulled out of the with me as we pulled out of the
forty eight years and I have done forty eight years and I have done
parking lot Sunday afternoon. parking lot Sunday afternoon.
my first wife and my son from a my first wife and my son from a
If you haven’t experienced an AA If you haven’t experienced an AA
distance and as he turned ten years distance and as he turned ten years
event such as this, I want to encourage event such as this, I want to encourage
old, she asked us if we would take old, she asked us if we would take
you to do so. I’ve been to 5 you to do so. I’ve been to 5
custody of him, since she was still custody of him, since she was still
International Conventions. Yes, they International Conventions. Yes, they
having difficulties of her own and we having difficulties of her own and we
are large, around 50,000 people. It’s a are large, around 50,000 people. It’s a
understood and gladly accepted her understood and gladly accepted her
different feeling, still ease and comfort, different feeling, still ease and comfort,
offer. This was the right thing to do offer. This was the right thing to do
when you can’t really go anywhere in when you can’t really go anywhere in
but it didn’t solve my son’s problem. but it didn’t solve my son’s problem.
the city without seeing name badges of the city without seeing name badges of
He was damaged and the die was cast. He was damaged and the die was cast.
fellow AAs. You can strike up a fellow AAs. You can strike up a
He struggled with drugs and alcohol He struggled with drugs and alcohol
conversation with anyone and often conversation with anyone and often
problems into his late forties and is problems into his late forties and is
join new friends for a meal who were join new friends for a meal who were
now in the program, sober for seven now in the program, sober for seven
strangers just minutes ago. For me, strangers just minutes ago. For me,
years and doing well. From this years and doing well. From this
it’s a safe way to explore a new area it’s a safe way to explore a new area
experience and from the observation of experience and from the observation of
and I’m surrounded by so many and I’m surrounded by so many
the newer members that come to us the newer members that come to us
friends (some who I haven’t met yet) friends (some who I haven’t met yet)
influenced by alcohol or drugs, the influenced by alcohol or drugs, the
that I have no concern over getting lost that I have no concern over getting lost
children are often emotionally children are often emotionally
or being alone. or being alone.
damaged and have very little chance of damaged and have very little chance of
There are no words to describe the There are no words to describe the
evolving into healthy adults. Some of evolving into healthy adults. Some of
feeling of holding hands and saying a feeling of holding hands and saying a
the symptoms I’ve read about are as the symptoms I’ve read about are as
prayer with over 50,000 fellow prayer with over 50,000 fellow
follows: Children of alcoholics endure follows: Children of alcoholics endure
alcoholics, try it, you might like it! alcoholics, try it, you might like it!
chronic and extreme levels of chronic and extreme levels of
Continued page 15 Continued page 15
Marilyn A Marilyn A
Yuma, AZ Yuma, AZ
everything we could to be supportive of everything we could to be supportive of
during a divorce or a marriage during a divorce or a marriage
tension and tension and