[Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

Fri Jan 2 23:58:44 UTC 2015

yes Jay, I agree...
Lynn

My email  is changing soon to: houstonKLR at gmail.com

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jay Weigel" <jay.weigel at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2015 5:29 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

> As with anything of that nature, I think it depends on the group.
>
> On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 6:01 PM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>
>> Heather, I found ACoA 7 years ago when I showed up at a new location for
>> an AlAnon meeting. The schedule I found online was incorrect and the
>> meeting of the night was ACoA... for people who grew up in an Alcoholic
>> 'or' dysfunctional home.  It has literally changed my life in ways that
>> AlAnon, never could have.
>>
>> peace
>> Lynn
>>
>> My email  is changing soon to: houstonKLR at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> website: www.ichthysdesigns.com
>>
>> When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have 
>> not
>> a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave 
>> me."
>> attributed to Erma Bombeck
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "H Angus" <hangus at ctcn.net>
>> Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2014 11:41 AM
>> To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.
>>
>>  I am so glad for you, David! 30 years is a wonderful testament to you 
>> and
>>> to the program.
>>>
>>> It was February of 1986 when I entered my first meeting of Tough Love,
>>> for parents of "difficult" children. Lots of people there said I should 
>>> go
>>> to Adult Children of Alcoholics, which is a 12-step program. I asked ,
>>> "Why? My parents weren't alcoholics -- they barely drank a glass of wine 
>>> in
>>> a month!" They answered "We still think you should go to ACOA." I was of
>>> course rigid with terror when I entered my first ACOA meeting, and I
>>> practically ran out the door when that meeting ended, so I wouldn't have 
>>> to
>>> stand in a circle and hold hands with anyone and pray! (Hold hands, 
>>> eeww!
>>> Pray in a circle with others, eeww!)
>>>
>>> Most ACOA meetings have gone away -- its a very tough program and I
>>> suspect that nowadays most people just take anti-depressants. But for me
>>> the program was like being let out of a dark box into a new world, and 
>>> I'll
>>> always be glad I did it old-school.
>>>
>>> This morning, as an Al-Anon member I attended my regular open
>>> (all-12-steppers welcome) AA meeting, and afterwards I clasped hands
>>> joyfully with the people on either side as we recited the Lord's Prayer.
>>> Was it the Eagles? or Socrates? who said, "What a long strange road it's
>>> been."
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "James Handsfield" <jhandsfield at icloud.com>
>>> To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
>>> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2014 9:31:47 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.
>>>
>>> Getting caught up- congratulations on a wonderful milestone.
>>>
>>> Jim Handsfield
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>  On Dec 26, 2014, at 9:30 PM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> happy 30th David. I have come to understand how wonderful events like
>>>> this are, be they months, years or decades!
>>>> peace
>>>> Lynn
>>>>
>>>> My email  is changing soon to: houstonKLR at gmail.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> website: www.ichthysdesigns.com
>>>>
>>>> When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have
>>>> not a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You 
>>>> gave
>>>> me." attributed to Erma Bombeck
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> From: "Jay Weigel" <jay.weigel at gmail.com>
>>>> Sent: Friday, December 26, 2014 10:06 AM
>>>> To: <Cantor03 at aol.com>; <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.
>>>>
>>>>  Happy 30th, David!
>>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, Dec 26, 2014 at 11:02 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
>>>>> magdalen at herberthouse.org> 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.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>> 