A Shared Anniversary

My brother Rich finally found his sobriety twenty years after I did. Rich struggled for so long with his drinking, but while waiting for a hospital test that was delayed, an x-ray technician engaged him in conversation. Rich always referred to that conversation as his enlightenment. An ordinary conversation on an ordinary day—and by God’s grace Rich began his AA journey for real. That was the day of his last drink. Rich passed away in December. He was in a lot of pain for the last two months of his life, but he remained peaceful and never picked up a drink.