[Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

[Grace Cangialosi]

Marion,
I've never smoked, but I've heard and read that smoking is one of the hardest addictions to break--even harder than heroin.  But you're right--there is so much alcohol at social functions that it's difficult for alcoholics to stay on the wagon.

My ex-husband was at my daughter's for dinner with us yesterday. He's in recovery again, but this time he's working the AA program. To my daughter's credit, there was no wine served at dinner, and no one even mentioned it.

On December 26, 2014, at 11:52 AM, Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com> wrote:

I am filled with admiration for those who  manage to  achieve long-term 
sobriety.  As an otherwise  weak-willed person who marks giving up 
smoking as her greatest achievement, I think drink would be much harder, 
given its integral place in our society.  Well done, David!  Happy 
anniversary.

Marion, a pilgrim
On 12/26/2014 11:02 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
>
>   
>
> December 27, 1984, I entered the diocesan committee room in the
> Eau Claire Diocesan Offices just next to Christ Church Cathedral in
> that City.
>   
> I had suspected something was up when the Cathedral Dean called me
> the day before and said he wanted "to chat" with me.  The subject  was
> avoided.
>   
> The committee room was set up with a table and four chairs on the  side
> opposite the entry, and there was one chair on my side.  The other  four
> chairs were occupied by (1) +Eau Claire, (2) Cathedral Dean, (3) the
> O/C who was a good friend, and (4) one of the Cathedral deacons, a
> fellow physician and friend.
>   
> It was a classical intervention, by the book and by the clerical  orders
> (bishop, priest, deacon, and layman).
>   
> I almost turned on my heels and walked out for it was obvious to me  what
> this was all about.  Thank God I did not.  I sat down.
>   
> I was gently but firmly raked over the coals.  The message:   alcohol was
> quickly sending me to hell in a handbasket, and I needed to clean up  my
> act or risk losing everything.
>   
> My reaction was initially (1) embarrassment, and then (2) anger.  How  could
> these people possibly put me through this after all my activity and  support
> for the Cathedral and the Diocese?  Then, blissfully, and I can't help  but
> feel miraculously, (3) appreciation.  I became aware that "these  people"
> valued me enough to take the time and effort to mount this  intervention.
>   
> I owed them and myself no less than to enter outpatient rehab and AA  that
> same day.  I has been TBTG 30 years since I picked up a  drink.  With
> God's help, I never will drink again.
>   
>   
> David Strang.
> .
>