Lessons In Sharing

My name is Al and I'm an alcoholic." How many times have I said that in almost thirty years in the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous? Too many to count, I'm sure. After retiring seven years ago, I now attend more meetings than ever. I average seven to nine meetings a week and try to stay active in order to keep my thinking straight. They refer to us as "old-timers" (I have a distaste for that expression) and say we fall into two categories: elder statesmen or bleeding deacons. How does one distinguish between the two? Does the elder statesman just sit back and allow others to share their experience, strength, and hope at meetings and share only when asked? Is the bleeding deacon one who monopolizes most of the meeting time with his knowledge of AA principles, not allowing others to share their thoughts--in other words, trying to impress others and, at times, himself? There has to be a happy medium.