[Magdalen] 30 Years of Sobriety.

[H Angus]

I agree, Lynn and Jay. But there are differences in the approaches between Al-Anon and ACOA too, and those differences can *make* a difference at various stages in our "journeys," I think.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Weigel" <jay.weigel at gmail.com>
To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
Sent: Friday, January 2, 2015 6:29:25 PM
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.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>