11 months

Not me....I guess about 11 months ago, maybe longer, I met a woman at our Friday night women's meeting. It was her first meeting and we were the only ones there, it was a bit early. I remember in all my 3 months or so, welcoming her and telling her a little of what AA was and what it had done for me so far. She was very scared and you could smell the alcohol on her. She didn't think she was an alcoholic but had been arrested for DUI so had to come. She would introduce herself but not say she was an alcoholic. I gave her my number too but she never used it. Saw her around a few meetings but not often and not regularly. We had an email exchange once or twice. she had heard me tell my story and that a certain woman had talked to me at my first meeting and how much that had meant to me. She wrote to tell me I had done that for her. It was really nice to hear. Anyway, I've seen her at meetings but we haven't really talked. I did notice that if there for the introductions she now identified herself as an alcoholic. She usually sits in the back, doesn't raise her hand...that kind of thing.

Anyway, I had a chance to speak with her yesterday after the meeting. She told me she will have 11 months on Monday. She feels good, she is happy, she never thought she would still be here. How awesome is that! I don't know if she has a sponser, is working the steps or what. But I know she has been sober for 11 months and I got to be there for the first day and will be there for the three hundred and thirty fifth day. We talked about the hand of AA this morning. I am so grateful that I could be one of the hands. I remember the hands that came to me. At my first meeting and the welcome, my first 24 hour chip and the first time I said I was an alcoholic, the first time I read the preamble and the understanding when I cried from either gratitude or fear. My sponser...just so many. And the people who maybe aren't ready to reach out a hand yet but are willing to share their experience at a meeting. That's enough too. How much it helps. How much of a difference we can make in each other's lives. Blessings.