The miracle happened

MY name is Joe, and I'm a grateful recovering alcoholic. My sobriety date is January 1st, 1992, that means by the miracle of AA and the grace of God as I understand Him, I will be 30 years sober in January 2022. I say miracle because that's what it is. I started drinking when I was 11 years old back in Ireland and I stopped when I was over 40 years old. Drink caused me trouble from a young age - the last rites at 16, had to leave Ireland at 17, (I found out in recovery that mom was an alcoholic in recovery and I was affecting her sobriety), at 21 I was told I only had a few months to live as my liver was damaged. What did I do then? I stopped drinking brandy and went on to everything else in the belief that if I carried on with the brandy, I would become an alcoholic and die. 

For 29 years I drank almost daily without ever having any thoughts that maybe drink was causing me a lot of trouble. I lost every career I had, including the RAF, three marriages, a fortune, my liberty and seriously damaged my health - but drink was not the problem, it was bad luck or someone else was to blame. I never wanted to stop drinking as alcohol was the only constant friend that I had in the whole world, what would I do without it? 

Then came that fateful day, January 1st 1992. I had been divorced for nine months and homeless for six, I had moved to Shrewsbury and was living in a homeless hostel, but you had to be in by 10pm, and as the pubs were still open there was no chance for that. I hitched down to my ex-wife and daughter for Christmas which I ruined for all with my behaviour. I woke up, or came to most likely, picked up a bottle and went for a walk. Within an hour I had finished that bottle - of the brandy I had sworn off 20 years before. It had no effect at all. I didn't know then that was to be my last drink - one day at a time, to date. Six days later the pain was so bad I tried suicide, but another miracle - the pills didn't work. I ended up speaking to someone on the phone who got me admitted to a mental hospital. Within a few days I was admitting I was an alcoholic and wanted help. 

I went to my first meeting in there, and did my first three Steps there as well. 30 years later and a lot of service, I keep coming back – I’ve never left. I love our Fellowship, I have family back in my life, ten grandchildren who have never seen me drunk, and my wonderful siblings. It works if you work it. 

JOE, Stevenage.