[Rosie P]

Hi All - First I want to say that I am a brand new member of this site but have been reading it for a while. Some days when I can't or don't get to a meeting I feel like I have just had one by reading this. I felt like I was snooping or reading someone's diary. Tonite at my home group if I was asked to speak, seeing as it was a pick up meeting, I was going to tell people how much this site helps me. Today I read where someone said to go to page 419 in the big book and read about being discontent at a meeting and its true. If I am in a mood and the meeting starts late, long drunkalogs or anything (other than smoke as you cannot smoke in our meetings in Mass.) that hits a nerve, it won't be a good meeting for me. But when I focus on the positive, it is a good meeting. I have actually been doing that before I reread that in the BB but its always a good reminder.

So I have been sober on close to 18 mos. and have never felt better. I love my group and am secretary of it. I do have my ups and downs with service and other things but feel very comfortable where I am. I have very good friends in AA, an awesome sponsor with over 20 yrs sobriety and love this program and never thought I would. I am writing my fourth step and finding things I haven;t thought about in literally 15-20 yrs.

Ok, so the issue is I have a very good friend who has been my best friend for 26 yrs. She was divorced a year ago and moved into the apt next door to me in Dec 05. She was very sick with all signs of liver problems. Finally she agreed to let me take her to the emergency room on 12/13/05. She was admitted and was in the hospital for 7 weeks. She had liver problems and developed pneumonia. She was put in ICU within 4 days and was given last rites on 12/23/05. This was just unbelievable. I knew she was a heavy drinker but didn't think she could have progressed physically to this degree. She ended up home with home nurse and p.t. all of February. I was very frustrated that she wasn't going to meetings. She finally started going in May (after my year anniversary) but by June I knew she was drinking. In July she admitted to drinking which everyone knew and she was going to start fresh. I asked my sponsor to step in and twelve step her during the July relapse. Since then she has also sponsored my friend. Now my friend is helping her sister who does not appear to want to stop drinking and they are both drinking AND thinking they are hiding it from me. Tonite at my meeting which my friend has been a member of for 6 weeks she didn't go up to get her 60 day medallion and just said she didn't feel like it. I know I am lucky not to have a desire to drink but I am so frustrated that she was literally told by her doctor she can never drink again and still is.

I talk to my friends about it and I guess I am just putting it out there to see if anyone has any advice for me. I really appreciate it and really enjoy this site. Thank you all!!!!!!