San Antonio

There are absolutely no words to describe the experience of being at my first International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Here is as close as I can come: I am grateful to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. More grateful than words can begin to describe. I have a renewed appreciation for how huge this fellowship is. And what a miracle it is that we are all sober.

Everywhere you turn in this town, we are greeted by people wearing their lanyards and name badges (and yes! we do need our stinkin' badges!) stating their first names and where they are from. It is amazing to see all these faces, names, and places. I have stopped plenty and talked about where they are from - Oh! I lived there! etc. I sat down for a while and waited for my daughter last night - and struck up conversations with people - perfect strangers, and yet, we are not.

I have also run into people I do know, and what a joy that is. Some of them I have found know my daughter and myself - and that is always fun to see them look at both of us and see a dawning awareness of kinship. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree is a common response.

I got to see Dave last night - he is just as much an old friend as the others - which always surprises me a little. We met right here, in blogland. But we have met many times since - in 'real' life. He is a wonderful man, and someone I consider a real friend.

Speaking of 'real' life - I better get to it. There is a whole city full of the fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous, and I need to be out there amongst 'em.