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XVIII – No Matter What
I had my last drink on January 4, 2001. That means that my first day of sobriety was on January 5, 2001, 18 years ago. I share my AA birthday with a friend who posted “X – No Matter What” on Facebook Saturday. I posted “XVIII – No Matter What” on my Facebook page.
I got one cake each for us and had them decorate the AA symbol of a triangle inside a circle with the numbers 18 for me and 10 for her inside the triangles. I took the cakes to the “Happy Hour” AA Meeting.
The room was packed with over 50 people. This is a blue-collar meeting, a couple of people are just a step or two above homeless. People were handed out numbered tickets when they came in. A dozen smokers smoked right outside the door. When the meeting started, we went around to introduce ourselves. “My name is Gary, and I am an alcoholic.” “Hello, Gary.” About 30 people identified as “alcoholic,” 15 identified as “alcoholic/addict,” and five said that they were there to support others. (This was an “open” meeting of AA, all are welcome.)
One member read from “How It Works” from the Big Book of AA. The Leader said that this was a “Chip Meeting” for varying lengths of sobriety. “Does anyone want a 24-Hour, Desire to stop drinking chip, the most important chip?” 1, 2, 3 months? 4, 5, 6 months? 7, 8, 9 months? 10, 11, 12 months? Any AA birthdays? We had birthdays of 5 months, 7 months, 10 years, and 18 years. My chip had the Roman numerals of “XVIII” inside the triangle inside the circle. I passed around my chip to the right. In a little while I got chips with the numbers 5, and 7, and Roman Numeral “X” on them. I put the chips to my forehead, prayed over them, then passed them on.
Is there a topic for today? My 10-year birthday friend suggested “Whatever It Takes.”
Tickets were pulled. About six people in, my number was called. The shares were brief and inspiring. They were usually joyful. One man congratulated the chip-getters, and added that his sobriety began when the State of Arizona had arrested him! People laughed. The “F” word was used fairly often.
Cake was handed out. I have not had such a delicious dessert this year.
At the halfway point, we passed the basket. One person read the 12 Promises of AA. About six people put their court papers in the basket, which the leader signed with her first name and initial.
As time was running out, the leader asked if there was anyone whose number had not been pulled who wanted to share.
“Any AA Announcements?” “Please sign up for the roundup the first weekend in June.” “Any other 12 Step Announcements?” “There is a Meeting here for Heroin Anonymous on Tuesdays at 8:30 pm, and Saturday’s at 3 pm.” “Any Fellowship Announcements?” “I am transitioning out of a halfway house and am looking for a sober living experience in renting a room.”
One hour after we started we were done. We held hands and said the Third Step prayer:
God, I offer myself to Thee – To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life.
May I do Thy Will always!
I rarely drink other than at celebrations where others have set the pace, but I have posted here at Ricochet a few times under the influence and really regretted it the next day. Thank you for sharing with us, and of course I will join with the others in prayer for your quick and full recovery.
Congratulations, Gary.
“….and you’re worth it”!
Congratulations!
The “and you’re worth it!” tends to be an Alalon or CoDA addition!
Surgery went well. Thank you for your love and prayers,
Gary
So glad to see this, Gary!
It’s good to hear. I hope they didn’t send you home already, not that we don’t want you to get home soon.
Great.
Was this the Make Gary Robbins Great Again surgery?
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Well, now that you put it that way, I had a small contained cancer in a polyp removed along with six inches of large intestine on each direction, like The Greatest President of the Twentieth Century, a small hernia at my belly button fixed, and my appendix was removed for good measure. Three for the price of one!
I told them that I don’t want pain medication, given my fear of opiates or any addictive substance due to being in remission for drinking. I have offered Tylenol which I have declined. While I am in general discomfort, I am not in pain.
I have been flat on my back, and have been still, given the importance of having the stitches between the two ends of the large intestine heal together and provide a seal, so that no bag will be needed. (Midget Faded Rattlesnake, I could think of no other way to describe this delicate situation.)
I am being hydrated, but no food is being introduced while I heal.
I am not mobile enough to bend over to view my belly. The nurses do not have a mirror for me to see my incisions.
I did very well for a 66 year old man. Very well. And I have permanently lost a couple of pounds, although I wouldn’t recommend this for a weight loss program!
The cancer surgery weight loss diet is extremely effective, for all the wrong reasons. Heal quickly, please.🙂
Great to hear! Heal well.