ICYPAA 49

In the cool hotel interior, a young woman was seated outside the bar area, at ease and intent in conversation with a newcomer. She pointed at her blue-covered book and read, "To be gravely affected, one does not necessarily have to drink a long time nor take the quantities some of us have." She continued, "It's true, right? It's true for almost everyone here." She nodded her head at the groups of young AAs who circled the lobby floor. She continued, "But listen to what it says next: 'This is particularly true of women. Potential female alcoholics often turn into the real thing and are gone beyond recall in a few years." She looked up with a smile emptied of mirth and said, "Well, what happens if you are a young person and a female?" Ignoring the irony of a fully-stocked bar in the background, the two recounted their experience in being nearly "gone beyond recall."