PO Box 1980

I was interested in reading about the experiences of young people coming into AA in the October 1989 issue of the Grapevine. It reminded me of something that happened to me when I was new on the program. A friend named John got sober just after I did. In the apartment building where he lived there was a twenty-two-year-old man who was very interested in my friend's journey into sobriety. He would often want to talk to John about AA, followed with pleasure John's milestones of three, six, nine months and then his year on the program. He attended occasional meetings. Finally one day they had a serious talk. The young man said, "You know, John, I believe I too am an alcoholic. I know someday I will have to stop drinking and join AAs you have. But I'm just not ready yet. I'm too young to do it now. There is too much fun to be had, too many parties to go to, too much life to be lived before I quit. Someday, but not just yet!" Of course there wasn't much left for John to say except, "We'll be here when you are ready!"