Gratitude To A Sponsor

I was struck sober on May 23, 1982, after about 34 years of abusing alcohol and prescription drugs. I spent 38 days at a psychiatric facility for alcohol dependency and drug abuse in central Texas. As soon as I arrived, I was immersed in the Big Book and especially the 12 Steps and went to in-house and city meetings just about every day. The AAs who drove us to the outside meetings sold me on the concept of not drinking alcohol and abusing pills and living sober. At about the mid-point of my stay I told my counselor that I was ready to be released and wanted to return to Houston to carry the message to all those people in the bars I used to frequent. I knew they needed this program of recovery and I could deliver it. My counselor convinced me that I needed to stay to complete the 28-day program and I agreed , somewhat deflated. I had to stay an extra six days because the Fourth of July fell on a release date. In truth, I probably needed those extra days.