Wonderfully humbling

I came into the rooms of AA in 1985 at the age of 52. About four years in, I had a very painful "convincer," which became the foundation for what is now almost 28 years of uninterrupted sobriety. Simply put, I've now been around long enough to know a lifeboat when I'm in one. Obviously, starting to get sober didn't come easy for me. I guess functional alcoholic is the best description of my status as a beginner. I paid our bills, kept food on the table and maintained a roof over our heads.