[laurie6781]

Some great responses so far Taz.

I have only had 1 (well 2 cause when you got Bev you also got her hubby Hugh, lol) in my recovery. Her hubby Hugh passed in July of '92 and She passed in Feb of '99. And by that time she was sponsoring me, befriending me, etc long distance. I was lucky in that I made a trip out to see her for 2 weeks, 2 months before she died.

By the time she passed I had been learning about my Native American Heritage from the Elders of the Navajo and Lakota clans for several years. At that time I already had one 'adopted' "Aunty". She was Navajo. I now have two adopted "Aunties" right here in my area that are Lakota.

I learn from these ladies almost daily. I also have a dear dear friend, who I met about 10 years ago on the net, who used to live in Central Illinois and had to move here to get some decent health care (the Dr Quack up there was killing her literally). We have been room mates for 1 1/2 years now and we share our recovery with each other. She's got 9 years on me recovery wise.

I have sponsored and continue to sponsor. I have some sponsees that have stayed with me as a sponsee and others who have moved on but remain friends.

To me, the beauty of the AA program is the SIMPLICITY of the program. ONE ALKIE WORKING WITH ANOTHER.

The only thing I will tell another about changing sponsers is:

CHECK YOUR MOTIVES.

If your motives seem for legitmate reasons, then go for it.

I don't believe it is written anywhere in that 164 pages about keeping the same sponsor for life, lol although many of us do and many of us don't.

Sponsorship is a very personal thing, both for the sponsor and the sponsee. Go slowly.

J M H O

Love and hugs,