Hello!

We just lost one of our oldtimers last night, he died in his sleep. He had something like 36 years of sobriety. I respected the man a lot. Some of the people in our area held him up like he was some kind of saint. I hate to tell them but he stayed sober just like the rest of us, one day at a time. He also put his pants on the same as the rest of us, one leg at a time! lol He had a lot of humility and didn't ever talk about how long he'd been around, even though one knew that it was at least "a few 24 hours". Anyway, he taught me a lot about staying sober and trying to be humble. Thanks, buddy!

What a nice memorial to your friend. Thanx for sharing his life with us.

I'm pretty sure that the "old timers" are all dead, DR Bob, Bill W, etc. Normally the fellows who are alive today are referred to as Long timers. At least that is what my old sponsor told me 20 yrs ago. Nice Eulogy (sp?)

Hi Bruce,
No, no I am not dead. I am getting to be an old person and
I am not sure if 31 years of sobriety makes me an old timer or not but---------------------.
At the old timers dinner here in FLA, they give me an old timers ribbon to wear.
Is that significant?
Maybe, infact I am sure, I will just keep doing what I have been doing all along and that is working it one day at a time. That way I don't worry much about how far along I am. I just reap the rewards of doing things succesfully now, that use to baffle me, so I must be learning something.
Hugs,
Pam

Thanks for your post, kaffehound.

In my early days of sobriety, the old guys were absolute inspirations to me. They were amazing. They all had medical difficulties, and it seemed like almost daily they'd be losing this or that body part or some physical function would fail. Yet, wherever I went, to a meeting, to Central Office, to some social function, there they'd be, somehow smiling, somehow reaching out their hands to the new person, carrying the message. Those old guys had dignity and passion. I wanted what they had.

Dean:-

"they'd be losing this or that body part or some physical function would fail."

You got that right friend - I can vouch from personal experience

It ain't funny, but what're ya gonna do? Cry?
Naw....
It's all part of the plan - God's plan.

God. as I understand him, has a plan for my life. My present situation is part of that plan. What happens next is God's plan. Not mine.
Thy will be done.

I didn't write that, nor did I write the 12 Steps or the Serenity Prayer or much of anything.

These ideas and principals were freely given to me.
My life has been altered, enlightened and improved through our beloved program, my friends in the fellowship.

I am truly blessed.

Love & peace.

Clark E.
Ontario

That's what I love about electronic recovery. Every area has its own way of handling things. Long Timers is a kinder phrase, doncha think? But here in the Chicago area we use the term Old Timers. In fact, just recently we had our annual All Chicago Open which draws thousands of people, and this year they had Old Timers seating right down front. 20 yrs qualified you for a seat.. next year I wonder if they will have boy scouts to help us down the aisle!!

Hi, everyone I am an alcholic & my name is Mike. Anyway I think when an old-timer suggests that they have a "few 24hrs" it may not give the newcomer alot of hope (thinking that this person is taking part or speaking with only a few days). Holy moly I was scared to death at that time & in our area we have certain members that disclose their sobriety date. I try to give my dry date everytime I get up to do something, not always, but then again nobodies perfect not even me(EGO) & no we don't say this for recognition of time in, but not to scare the newcomer.

Thanks Mike,
Here in Florida even when you speak in a regular meeting you state your home group.
If you stand up to speak you state your sobriety date and your home group.
And where you got sober.
It's nice. I like the idea that your not scaring the newcomer but I also
think it helps them get their bearings, begin to anchor and to find those they
want to identify with.
Of Course my ego was so big when I first joined AA I would have thought
that my program was as good any old timers any old day. It just took God one or two body blows to make me wake up to how precarious my sobriety is and always will be.
PamW

Hi
I have been sober for 14 years - untill August 30th - I deliberately took a drink and have continued to do so about onece a month. No body knows . and I dont want to tell anybody. I know this is wrong,but I still go to A.A and really I do not want my husband and children to know as my daughter is getting married in April.I intend to continue going to meetings and pray.
I know I am a croward and a liar - I just dont want to hurt my husband and Family after so long - do you think I will be forgiven. I realsie that I cannot carry on drinking and lying. and I really did not enjoy drinking as I felt ill and I like my life sober.
Thanks for listening

Honesty is perhaps the most important part of my recovery program. You can lie to other and make them believe virtually anything you want them to - but it's your face in the mirror each morning, mocking you in your dishonesty.

Think it through. You've been around long enough to know that this is a progressive and incurable disease. You pick up where you left off but where will you finish?

A lot can happen between now and the time your daughter gets married in April. Do you really want to risk that?

We are all human. We make mistakes. We can be forgiven.

Thanks For your reply - you confirmed what I already know. - HOW it works.
At the moment I do not have the courage to tell anybody in my group. - as there asre six of us(couples) who go around together and I am full of fear.
I know its a long way to myDaughters wedding - but right now I cannot bear to see the lokk on their faces. I have not had a drink to day.

Thanks For your reply - you confirmed what I already know. - HOW it works.
At the moment I do not have the courage to tell anybody in my group. - as there asre six of us(couples) who go around together and I am full of fear.
I know its a long way to myDaughters wedding - but right now I cannot bear to see the lokk on their faces. I have not had a drink to day.
PS - Can I continue talking to you

[HELLO TO ALL OLD TIMERS, LONG TIMERS AND ONE DAY AT A TIMERS...I HAVE BEEN SOBER AND STRAIGHT SINCE JULY 5TH 1977...I WAS FROM FAIRFIELD, CONN AND JUST RELOCATED TO A DREAM(SOBER ONE)COME TRUE, TO PAWLEYS ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA....I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL MAN, NAMED MAYNARD AS MY FRIEND WHEN I FIRST BECAME SOBER(HIS STORY IS IN THE BIG BOOK) HE WAS AN INDIAN WHO WAS SOBER FOR OVER 30 YRS WHEN I WALKED INTO MY 1ST MEETING...HE HELPED MANY WHO CAME INTO THE ROOMS AND I WAS ONE OF THEM...HE HAS PASSED ON A FEW YEARS AGO....BUT I ADMIRED HIS SIMPLE, PEACEFUL UNDERSTAND OF THE AA PROGRAM.....HIS SPIRIT WILL LIVE ON FOR ALL OF THOSE HE HELPED WITH "KEEPING IT SIMPLE" NO MATTER HOW MANY HOURS WE HAVE HAD.....IF WE CAN REMEMBER THE SIMPLE TEACHINGS WE RECEIVED AT OUR VERY 1ST MEETING...AND CONTINUE TO LIVE...AND USE EACH OF THOSE SLOGANS AND STEPS ....THEN WE TOO CAN LOOK BACK AND BE A RESPECTED MEMBER IN A WONDERFUL FELLOWSHIP CALLED AA.....GOD'S BLESSINGS WISHED TO EACH OF YOU EACH NEW SOBER TODAY.....BARBARA ELLEN W.

It takes a lot to admit what you are doing. Honesty, is important, but even more important to an alcoholic. It is what kept us drinking, the inability to be honest because we thought people would not accept, like or want us. After recovery I have found that my thinking was wrong. Your Family will forgive you, and by all means continue meetings, talk with your sponsor. Take one day at a time. Go to a meeting and do not take a drink in between.