Alcoholism is an Icy River
On this day (Jan 13th) in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the Potomac River shortly after takeoff from the airport in Washington DC. There were only five survivors.
In an age long before cell phone cameras, there is video of the crash and rescue attempts, as a crew from a news station was nearby and a videographer captured the harrowing scene.
To this day I remember one of the passengers, a woman, foundering in the icy water, flailing for a life ring that had been tossed her. She made few feeble attempts to grasp it, but it appeared she was going to drown, the life ring just within reach. "Grab the ring," I remember imploring of the woman, "Grab it and hang on!" It was heart wrenching to watch.
Just as it is heart wrenching to see so many newcomers--and those not so new--caught in the cycle of relapse. They make the decision to quit, come here for support and advice, only to fall back into drinking. And like the woman in the river, we implore the struggling alcoholic, "Grab the life ring. It's right there in your grasp. Hang on, there is a way out."
Sober Recovery is but one life ring of many. If you have made the decision to get sober you have but to grab the rope and hang on. Recovery...grab it and hang on. You don't know how many chances you will get. Alcohol is an icy river that will pull you under.