Dear Grapevine: Letters from Readers

When birds fly south
In Northern Minnesota, each spring brings the return of the birds. But in winter, most leave the bitter cold and migrate south. A similar phenomenon occurs with recovering alcoholics. The rooms that are virtually empty in the winter begin to fill up in May. “We need more chairs” can be heard in the meeting rooms. Where once only five or six were gathered, there are now 10 to 15. Many of the same faces show up each summer. We call them the snowbirds because when the snow falls they happily head south to find AA rooms that are a little warmer. Like the geese, ducks, robins, loons, cardinals and hummingbirds, they pack up and leave. The folks who keep the fires burning and the coffee on are like chickadees.