PO Box 1980

I got sober in June 1995, and so this year I've been going through all my "firsts"--first Christmas, first New Year's, first birthday, etc. St. Patrick's Day was always my biggest and favorite drinking holiday, and as it approached this year, I began to feel tense and restless. I shared this at meetings and with my sponsor and other AA members. Then "Uncle" Dick G., an AA member and a friend of the family for many years, gave me the January 1996 issue of the Grapevine with the history of AA in Ireland. Perfect timing! After reading the article, I had a grateful feeling in my heart, and was so proud to be one hundred percent Irish and sober, that I celebrated by going into New York City for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. I had the best St. Patrick's Day I've ever had.