January 11

January 11 – AM          Page 151, A Vision For You, Chapter 11

      The less people tolerated us, the more we withdrew from society, from life itself.  As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down.  It thickened, ever becoming blacker.  Some of us sought out sordid places, hoping to find understanding companionship and approval.  Momentarily we did—then would come oblivion and the awful awakening to face the hideous Four Horsemen—Terror, Bewilderment, Frustration, Despair.  Unhappy drinkers who read this page will understand!

January 11 – PM          Page 169, Pioneers of A.A., Part I

PIONEERS OF A.A.

      Dr. Bob and the twelve men and women who here tell their stories were among the early members of A.A.’s first groups.
All have now passed away of natural causes, having maintained complete sobriety.  The periods of sobriety attained by these thirteen A.A.’s range from fifteen to forty-six years.
Today, hundreds of additional A.A. members can be found who have had no relapse for more than thirty years.
All of these, then, are the pioneers of A.A.  They bear witness that release from alcoholism can really be permanent.