Great post, thank you!! As I've said before in this forum (maybe I'll stop qualifying my comments soon, lol) I'm a recovering alkie. My mom died from her addictions, so reading here is both good to see my disease from the "other side," and comforting somehow to see others who have loved someone with an addiction, like I loved my mom.
Absolutely true comments, too. My first year sober was about learning how to not drink, and the beginnings of figuring myself out. Second year was about becoming, then becoming comfortable with, the new me. I haven't quite figured out what this third year is about, but there has been a fair amount of helping others.
It's nice to think it's possible that in just over two years, my chance of relapse can go way down. I still worry that the day will come I'll truly think I can safely drink. As if!