By the Grace of God and the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous,

Today I am celebrating 22 years of continous sobriety. Words cannot begin to convey my gratitude for this blessing.

22 years ago this morning, I picked up the phone book as I had every morning for a week or two, and looked up Alcoholics Anonymous, as I had every morning for a week or two. On July 24, 1984, I actually made that phone call. I talked to a young man on the phone, who quickly realized that he needed to find a woman to talk to me. In a few moments, a woman called me back. We talked for over an hour. She understood me! She had done the same kinds of things I had! After an hour on the phone, like "closing a deal", she asked me to go to a meeting with her. I told her I couldn't possibly go to a meeting! I had three small children and a husband! My husband was working late and I had no babysitter or car at home. She said she would get a babysitter, pay the babysitter, drive the babysitter to my house, drive me to the meeting, drive me back home, drive the babysitter back home, etc. I was left with NO EXCUSES! I knew I could think of something later, so I agreed to go to the meeting, knowing that I would call her later in the day and tell her my new excuse. But later in the day I started shaking, as I knew I would. And for some reason, I didn't take a drink - I just shook. And for some reason, by about 3:00 p.m., I knew I had to go to that meeting. And I did go to that meeting. And since that night, I have never had any doubt that being a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous is what I want most in the world.

There are tears of gratitude as I write that I did not have a drink of alcohol that day or any other day since. That is a miracle. I have done the steps - repeatedly, I have mostly always had a sponsor (I have had sponsors get drunk, etc.,) I have always gone to meetings, I have always worked with others to one degree or another... but I believe that it is the Grace of God that keeps me sober. Once again, I cannot say how grateful I am for a loving God and the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I want to say that I started this blog in September 05 and since being "discovered" by Trudge in late November, you sober bloggers have added to my sobriety immensely. I love blogging! I love the exposure to the new people. I love the diversity of us! You guys have really been amazing. Thank you!

I need to get out of here to a meeting. I still have to wash my hair, curl it, put on make up, get dressed and be out of here in a half hour!

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of the past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you - until then." -- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164