Chip off the Old Block

As I near my fifth anniversary, I find myself in a reflective state, and my one-year anniversary comes to mind. It was during the celebration of my first anniversary when I repeated what so many others in the rooms of AA have said before: “I stand here not to congratulate myself, but to show the newcomer that this program works.” I also gave credit to the old-timers, who have passed on their own wisdom, and who cared for me when I was unable to care for myself. Truly, I was to learn, we keep each other sober, sometimes in the most unforeseen ways.