Dr. Bob's Farewell Talk

My good friends in A.A. and of A.A.,

I get a big thrill out of looking over a vast sea of faces like this with a feeling that possibly some small thing I did a number of years ago played an infinitely small part in making this meeting possible. I also get quite a thrill when I think that we all had the same problem. We all did the same things. We all get the same results in proportion to out zeal and enthusiasm and stick-to-itiveness. If you will pardon the injection of a personal note at this time, let me say that I have been in bed five of the last seven months and my strength hasn't returned as I would like, so my remarks of necessity will be very brief.

There are two or three things that flashed into my mind on which it would be fitting to lay a little emphasis. One is the simplicity of our program. Let's not louse it all up with Freudian complexes and things that are interesting to the scientific mind, but have very little to do with our actual A.A. work. Our Twelve Steps, when simmered down to the last, resolve themselves into the words "love" and "service". We understand what love is, and we understand what service is. So let's bear those two things in mind.

Let us also remember to guard that erring member the tounge, if we must use it, let's use it with kindness and consideration and tolerance.

And one more thing: None of us would be here today if somebody hadn't taken time to explain things to us, to give us a little pat on the back, to take us to a meeting or two, to do numerous little kind and thoughtful acts in our behalf. So let us never get such a degree of smug complacency that we're not willing to extend, or attempt to extend to our less fortunate brothers that help which has been so beneficial to us.

Thank you very much,

Dr. Bob

Medically Induced

Breathing hard on the operating table, unable to comprehend the trauma of being clinically induced, with anesthesia. As I listen and look slowly over at the heart monitor, buzzing the nurse on call to give me something to drink and lunch made me feel uneasy.

Comatose and packed down with bandages across my head with tubes running through my thoracic cavitites, along with a sporadic respiratory problem while on high powerful medication.

Eyes rollin up in the back of my head, as I push the buzzer, doctors flew in the admission room along with a team of nurses. Why did I do drugs? Why did I have an addiction for drinking, cocaine and ravenous drugs? I just couldn't admit that I had a problem.

Long days at the detox center for substance abuse. This reminds me of the looking glass. For example; you can only see one side of yourself. And the other side you cannot see. My children whom are sexually active at 11 and 13 years old, with no prognosis of being pregnant.

Can you gain a sense of hope or normality? You have some type of stability on an illusive scale. I remember times when I saw my street doctor who gave me intravenous drugs taught me everything that I know. I think to myself how the world was so different back then.

Meanwhile; hospital stays, changing times and family feuds had me living in everlasting hell. My promise to get clean and rehabilitated was long winded, after a ninety day discharge.

What do I do or what do I say to the drug dealer and the street doctor? As he approaches me about some money I owe him. Oh lord please don't kill me! Please don't proposition me! Please stop the dramatic entrance to this one woman world that I live in.

Furthermore; I am medically induced with doctors and detoxification nurses. Let me take my meds right now. Oh God please help me, because I'm scared of what I might become.

STD's, shelters, and trash can food makes me run to the street man. Still having a family feud, where are my children Carmichael! He replied, they're at school! Okay Carmichael, I'm going back to detox even though they helped me before when I was drug addicted.

Meanwhile; antibiotics, methadone, and twenty three months of rehab gives way to a new life with counseling for my family. No more feuding or drugs. Because I have learned to let



This is a passage from one of my friends, about her experiences. I post it as is, even though it is not finished. Thank you to my friend for sharing her story.




Jesus Christ told his followers that he came to earth, "not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:28) He willingly gave up his life for the benefit of others. How did Jesus, by his death, provide a ransom? Why was this necessary? For whom did Jesus lay down his life? And what can his death mean for you?

The Big Man's got it

Saint Theresa's Prayer




May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you
are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.



This is a poem a volunteer wrote about me.

There is a man
he made many mistakes which he can never fix
he had a broken down soul, destroyed by the drugs he sold
he has been alone with the effects of a stroke he had to cope
But why o why judge this man
Is not my and your's idea of a perfect man
meant to be but you can't understand
Is this a man stronger than you or I?
For finding God with little hope to survive
Still loving God in times one would cry
While also teaching me something never to forget
The Big Man's got it.