20 Years Sober!
Yesterday I celebrated 20 years of being sober!
I went through my father's death, getting cancer, numerous stays in psych wards and the 2016 election without drinking!
We went to dinner with a friend who has the same anniversary date, and her wife. Marvelous Turkish restaurant, Bodrun. Everything is made on the spot so there's a bit of a wait, but it was all soooooo good. I had stuffed cabbage, Jeff had something called Sultan's Delight, which is lamb cubes on "silky eggplant puree". That phrase tickled me. Yes, it was silky. And smoky and delicious.
Then we went to an AA anniversary meeting at the same place I first got sober. Jeff and I used to go there for our Saturday night "dates" when we first got sober. I haven't been to an AA meeting in at least 10 years, but I don't tell AAers that. Even when I've told AAers that I've had 20 years without a meeting, they darkly warn me I'm going to start drinking any moment now. "Meeting makers make it, as they say. I'm a creature that doesn't exist--an alcoholic who left AA and didn't go "out" as we call relapse. When that happens, it wipes out any sober time, no matter how long. For years an incentive (besides the brain damage) that kept me from drinking was the determination not to say, "I'm Elisa and I have 5 days back". My share is a blur but the room was rocking with laughter, which I didn't anticipate. Good laughter, I hasten to add. And I didn't say anything about not going to meetings. There are too many people there who need help.
Our friend had thoughtfully signed me up for a 20 year coin. Generally I've ignored/forgotten my anniversaries but 20 years is significant. Jeff has 20 years in September. All very cool. Most of the shares were quite sweet, although the slogans run right up my spine, even now. There were a couple of people I knew who recognized me, even if I didn't recognize them.
A very nice feeling.
I went through my father's death, getting cancer, numerous stays in psych wards and the 2016 election without drinking!
We went to dinner with a friend who has the same anniversary date, and her wife. Marvelous Turkish restaurant, Bodrun. Everything is made on the spot so there's a bit of a wait, but it was all soooooo good. I had stuffed cabbage, Jeff had something called Sultan's Delight, which is lamb cubes on "silky eggplant puree". That phrase tickled me. Yes, it was silky. And smoky and delicious.
Then we went to an AA anniversary meeting at the same place I first got sober. Jeff and I used to go there for our Saturday night "dates" when we first got sober. I haven't been to an AA meeting in at least 10 years, but I don't tell AAers that. Even when I've told AAers that I've had 20 years without a meeting, they darkly warn me I'm going to start drinking any moment now. "Meeting makers make it, as they say. I'm a creature that doesn't exist--an alcoholic who left AA and didn't go "out" as we call relapse. When that happens, it wipes out any sober time, no matter how long. For years an incentive (besides the brain damage) that kept me from drinking was the determination not to say, "I'm Elisa and I have 5 days back". My share is a blur but the room was rocking with laughter, which I didn't anticipate. Good laughter, I hasten to add. And I didn't say anything about not going to meetings. There are too many people there who need help.
Our friend had thoughtfully signed me up for a 20 year coin. Generally I've ignored/forgotten my anniversaries but 20 years is significant. Jeff has 20 years in September. All very cool. Most of the shares were quite sweet, although the slogans run right up my spine, even now. There were a couple of people I knew who recognized me, even if I didn't recognize them.
A very nice feeling.