Hi, My name is Shell and I am a drunk in recovery.

I always knew the about the book "Alcoholics Anonymous." There was a "Twenty-Four Hours a Day" book in the house, as well. My Dad was a drunk, and went through treatment in Brea, California. It didn't work well ... he didn't apply himself, and eventually the disease took his life. He drowned drunk at age thirty-four, when I was eleven years old. He struggled all his life with the disease. I tried to do sobriety on my own and all I ended up was drunk again time after time "on the wagon." To me, this program is "you, me, us and that equals WE." And thank God for that. I need the fellowship. I need to hear the good, the bad and the ugly to keep this drunk sober. I want to know all about you, what happened, and most of all, how you got sober and stayed that way so I can put some new tools in my little red toolbox. I have to do the footwork in order to stay sober ... I learned that the hard way through a relapse. Gratefully, I made it back alive and you guys welcomed me with open arms. Some had stern arms, but I need that also, because I am a stubborn, manipulating drunk when I am drinking. I'll tell you anything you want to hear many times with the promise that I'll check into detox if I could just have one more beer. And then, on the ride there (less than ten minutes) I'd down the beer and say, "NOPE! Not going!" Anyway, I am here now and love every minute of sobriety ... even the good, bad and the ugly beat the h*** out of being drunk ... so just for today, I think I'll stay.