How AA Meetings Have Changed

Around 1987, I first attempted to go to an AA meeting. I called a central office for the time and location of a meeting in my neighborhood. The meeting’s entrance was on a side alley of a building, which struck me as very suspicious. There was a person standing in the alley, possibly talking to or greeting people. I’m not sure, since I avoided him. I walked into the meeting room and heard much laughter and animated chatter. I also noticed that the air was thick with cigarette smoke. I had no idea or where to go or what to do, so I decided it was safe to stand by the coffee machine, a perch from which to survey the terrain.