Hey Dude, My sobriety date is July 25, 1981. I recall my first time to AA, just listening to what they had to say. I too was not inclined to their "religious teachings", as I saw them, but I just wanted a way out of the drunken despair and all the other stuff that goes along with it. It was tough at first but as they said, "try us for 90 days and if you don't like it we will refund your misery." The religious stuff was not nearly as bad as I thought, in fact it was good and my life started to turn around after a couple months. My life has continued to get better even after 35 years sobriety. Yes there have been times that things weren't so good but mostly they have been good. Today I had rather die than go back to the life before AA. You are a good man, when I get back to PI early next year I will look you up and buy the first round of coffee. Although I was not ashamed of getting drunk I too was ashamed of getting sober....go figure.
