I'm Pamela, an alcoholic.

Yesterday, I attended an AA meeting taken to the home of a dying member. There were about twelve of us, and as we sat in a circle in his living room, my dad asked him what topic he'd like to hear discussed. When he said "accepting the unacceptable," we all froze in our chairs, knowing full well that none of us had as clear an understanding of that topic as he had. And yet, as we went around the room and we all did our best to share our own "experience, strength, hope and pain," it was a most amazing meeting. So many in the room had been influenced by his forty-four years of sobriety ... for generations in my family. His influence goes on as we witness his Third Step in action now that he is turning over to his Higher Power the ultimate human concern. Life. I remember my first sponsor taught me that arguing with the sun was as futile as in many other situations I thought I was in control of. Every time I think I should be in charge of a result, I hear her voice saying, "you're arguing with the sun again." And with that reminder, I learned to let go and let God. As we stood together and prayed, as we hugged and cried, the love and fellowship that we find in our rooms is amazing. The "we" in the program is so very evident at times like these. Thanks to two drunks who helped each other and taught us how to live by incorporating the twelve simple Steps in our lives one day at a time.

- Pamela S.