24 Hour Club Sign Up Sheet, Part 61, All Welcome!
2Cor5:17
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Between Doctor's opinion & pg 164
Posts: 4,187
12amET....md; good na mtg earlier. Ready to move into recovery house tomm. Sponsor has been such a blessing in helping me find somewhere so don't end up homeless plus lots of other ways. Truly grateful. 24 more pls
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida USA
Posts: 5,731
24 Hour Club Sign up Sheet Part 61, All Are Welcome!
Hello, So glad you stopped in. If you are new, what we do is sign up and commit
to stay clean and sober the the next 24 Hours.
Just post your time and commit! We appreciate if you please post only once
daily on this thread as this is mainly a sign up sheet that will make up our
final roster.
Thanks Everyone!
Monument Valley, Arizona USA
Welcome To Our Newest Members- isitme - snowbunting - sober4metoday -
Badger4- jnoob22 - bp09 - zzs2377 -liss74- kelkal -Sophie242 - nwtx81
Congratulations!
zombiegirl 1 week!
savarna 2 weeks!
metam 2 weeks!
Neverthought 2 weeks!
Applekat 2 weeks!
zeppodog 2 weeks!
Peacehappyness 3 weeks!
pupkin 3 weeks!
GwenCummings 3 weeks!
Badger4 3 weeks!
If I missed your special day my apologies, send me a pm with your start date.
Remember come back no matter what, even if you slipped!
Grand Canyon, Arizona USA
New Roster will be posted at 10 pm EST USA 6/1.
Google USA Eastern Standard Time to see how your local time translates.
Colorado River through the Grand Canyon
Today Cascabel is sharing his story, you are going to like this. He lives in this beautiful state of Arizona!
Hi My name is Cascabel,
I was born in southern California near the end of the Great Depression to an extended family of heavy drinkers. I am
Scottish on both sides of my family: Highland Scot on my father’s side and Scotch/Irish - Highlander on my mother’s side.
I was told that drinking “ran in the family”.
I had a happy, normal (for those days) childhood. My father served in the Navy during WW-II while my mother ran a
boarding house for women aircraft workers; my brother and I were looked after by a grandmother.
After the war, we moved around a lot: several locations in California as well as Oregon, Washington (state), Idaho and
Arizona. I graduated from high school in Washington, worked as an auto mechanic, got married young and then enlisted
in the Army.
After being trained as a medic and finishing jump school in ‘62, I was assigned as a medical specialist to a Special Forces
B-team of military advisers in the central Highlands of Viet Nam. Six weeks after my arrival in Viet Nam, I was wounded
by a grenade during an ambush while returning from one of my village clinics. I returned stateside for recovery and finished
my hitch as a preventative medicine instructor at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In these years, I seldom drank even when on
R & R.
After my service, I resumed working as a mechanic but with the intention of completing a university degree. I enrolled at
a university, worked hard and completed a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in ecology in eight years. I seldom drank while I
was a student; I couldn't afford to! I did a lot of mountain climbing while I was a student: those were great days!
I wanted to work in academics but positions in my specialty were hard to find when I graduated. So, I obtained what is
called a “soft money” position: supporting myself and family by writing research grants. This is an uncertain business, at
best, and is quite stressful. It was at this time, in my mid-30’s, that I started drinking “just to unwind”. In a short time,
I became a heavy drinker.
The drinking continued after I became a professor and my family finally became concerned enough to ask me to quit.
I did quit, with only family support, and remained sober for over 30 years. It didn’t seem too hard to quit this first time
and I soon prided myself on being a teetotaler. After an enjoyable, and sober, career as a scientist I retired, first to
Washington, then to Arizona. For several years we were really happy in our little corner of the desert.
Then, about 5 years ago, my wife of over 50 years was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. This is a horrible, progressive
and ultimately fatal lung disease not related to smoking. She was given about 18 months to live unless she could get a
lung transplant.
We immediately applied to the U of A transplant program for a transplant. All of the testing and interviews and waiting for
donor lungs were stressful so we got in the habit of relaxing with a glass or two of wine in the late afternoon. After 8
months of waiting, she got her donor lungs.
Recovery from the surgery was touch-and-go for a month or so but now, she is doing extremely well and is almost 4 years
post-surgery. I, on the other hand, had re-acquired my heavy drinking habits and decided that I again needed to stop. It
was easier said than done though. Being retired means less structure in one’s life and I believe that structure helps with
abstinence.
I read a lot about alcohol addiction and recovery and did a lot of research on the web. After many stops and starts, I came
across the Sober Recovery web site. I lurked here for a while, started posting a limited amount and finally joined the 24 hour
club.
Joining the 24 hour club was the ticket! It provided the structure and accountability I needed to finally drive the cork into the
bottle for the last time. I’m now nearly six months sober and almost the only time I think about drinking is when I log onto SR
and am reminded of the problems it causes. Life is looking a lot better now!
By the way, Cascabel is a Spanish word for either a rattlesnake or a small, bell-shaped chili. In English it refers to the round
knob on the back of a muzzle-loading cannon. I prefer the Spanish versions. In my part of Arizona, over half the people grew
up speaking Spanish. I love the language.
Thanks for letting me share
Wow Cascabel your story was fascinating, thank you for sharing it. You have
been through so much. I am glad both you and your wife are well now.
Thank you for your service in the military and for being
a part of this club!
*Song For The Day-Grand Canyon Song-Steve Goodman
If unable to find this 24 hour Thread in the future, Click on Search near top of page and
type in Newcomer Daily Support Threads and click GO! This is Part 61. God Bless!
capra laeviculus
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: German Village, OH
Posts: 3,427
This song pops into my head with some regularity.
Southern culture on the skids- Skunk.wmv - YouTube
Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: southern Oregon
Posts: 365
Hi Kitkat331, it's so good to hear you're feeling better after 2 months sober!
Congrats! It DOES feel so much better....
Thanks to Cascabel for your story, and thanks to deeker for the beautiful pics!
It's been a weird couple of days, and the AV was tryin' to sweet talk me....BUT...
I feel so much better this evening, kinda like I got over another hump,
it's so good to be here in the sober clubhouse with my comrades
Here's to a great sober weekend, whatever comes our way!
Nitey-nite deeks!
Peace,
~Heartfan
Congrats! It DOES feel so much better....
Thanks to Cascabel for your story, and thanks to deeker for the beautiful pics!
It's been a weird couple of days, and the AV was tryin' to sweet talk me....BUT...
I feel so much better this evening, kinda like I got over another hump,
it's so good to be here in the sober clubhouse with my comrades
Here's to a great sober weekend, whatever comes our way!
Nitey-nite deeks!
Peace,
~Heartfan
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Gulf Coast, Florida USA
Posts: 5,731
24 Hour Club Sign up Sheet Part 61, All Are Welcome!
[/URL]Hello, So glad you stopped in. If you are new, what we do is sign up and commit
to stay clean and sober the the next 24 Hours.
Just post your time and commit! We appreciate if you please post only once
daily on this thread as this is mainly a sign up sheet that will make up our
final roster.
Thanks Everyone!
Monument Valley, Arizona USA
Welcome To Our Newest Members- isitme - snowbunting - sober4metoday -
Badger4- jnoob22 - bp09 - zzs2377 -liss74- kelkal -Sophie242 - nwtx81
Congratulations!
zombiegirl 1 week!
savarna 2 weeks!
metam 2 weeks!
Neverthought 2 weeks!
Applekat 2 weeks!
zeppodog 2 weeks!
Peacehappyness 3 weeks!
pupkin 3 weeks!
GwenCummings 3 weeks!
Badger4 3 weeks!
If I missed your special day my apologies, send me a pm with your start date.
Remember come back no matter what, even if you slipped!
Miss venuscat will no longer be serving on the 24 hour club due to family issues. Thanks Miss venuscat
for all your service in the past. I will be looking for someone to take her place. If interested in a little service
work please pm me and we will discuss what is involved and determine if this is something that would work
for you. It would be a daily commitment.
Thank You!
Grand Canyon, Arizona USA
New Roster will be posted at 10 pm EST USA 6/1.
Google USA Eastern Standard Time to see how your local time translates.
Colorado River through the Grand Canyon
Today Cascabel is sharing his story, you are going to like this. He lives in this beautiful state of Arizona!
Hi My name is Cascabel,
I was born in southern California near the end of the Great Depression to an extended family of heavy drinkers. I am
Scottish on both sides of my family: Highland Scot on my father’s side and Scotch/Irish - Highlander on my mother’s side.
I was told that drinking “ran in the family”.
I had a happy, normal (for those days) childhood. My father served in the Navy during WW-II while my mother ran a
boarding house for women aircraft workers; my brother and I were looked after by a grandmother.
After the war, we moved around a lot: several locations in California as well as Oregon, Washington (state), Idaho and
Arizona. I graduated from high school in Washington, worked as an auto mechanic, got married young and then enlisted
in the Army.
After being trained as a medic and finishing jump school in ‘62, I was assigned as a medical specialist to a Special Forces
B-team of military advisers in the central Highlands of Viet Nam. Six weeks after my arrival in Viet Nam, I was wounded
by a grenade during an ambush while returning from one of my village clinics. I returned stateside for recovery and finished
my hitch as a preventative medicine instructor at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In these years, I seldom drank even when on
R & R.
After my service, I resumed working as a mechanic but with the intention of completing a university degree. I enrolled at
a university, worked hard and completed a bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in ecology in eight years. I seldom drank while I
was a student; I couldn't afford to! I did a lot of mountain climbing while I was a student: those were great days!
I wanted to work in academics but positions in my specialty were hard to find when I graduated. So, I obtained what is
called a “soft money” position: supporting myself and family by writing research grants. This is an uncertain business, at
best, and is quite stressful. It was at this time, in my mid-30’s, that I started drinking “just to unwind”. In a short time,
I became a heavy drinker.
The drinking continued after I became a professor and my family finally became concerned enough to ask me to quit.
I did quit, with only family support, and remained sober for over 30 years. It didn’t seem too hard to quit this first time
and I soon prided myself on being a teetotaler. After an enjoyable, and sober, career as a scientist I retired, first to
Washington, then to Arizona. For several years we were really happy in our little corner of the desert.
Then, about 5 years ago, my wife of over 50 years was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. This is a horrible, progressive
and ultimately fatal lung disease not related to smoking. She was given about 18 months to live unless she could get a
lung transplant.
We immediately applied to the U of A transplant program for a transplant. All of the testing and interviews and waiting for
donor lungs were stressful so we got in the habit of relaxing with a glass or two of wine in the late afternoon. After 8
months of waiting, she got her donor lungs.
Recovery from the surgery was touch-and-go for a month or so but now, she is doing extremely well and is almost 4 years
post-surgery. I, on the other hand, had re-acquired my heavy drinking habits and decided that I again needed to stop. It
was easier said than done though. Being retired means less structure in one’s life and I believe that structure helps with
abstinence.
I read a lot about alcohol addiction and recovery and did a lot of research on the web. After many stops and starts, I came
across the Sober Recovery web site. I lurked here for a while, started posting a limited amount and finally joined the 24 hour
club.
Joining the 24 hour club was the ticket! It provided the structure and accountability I needed to finally drive the cork into the
bottle for the last time. I’m now nearly six months sober and almost the only time I think about drinking is when I log onto SR
and am reminded of the problems it causes. Life is looking a lot better now!
By the way, Cascabel is a Spanish word for either a rattlesnake or a small, bell-shaped chili. In English it refers to the round
knob on the back of a muzzle-loading cannon. I prefer the Spanish versions. In my part of Arizona, over half the people grew
up speaking Spanish. I love the language.
Thanks for letting me share
Wow Cascabel your story was fascinating, thank you for sharing it. You have
been through so much. I am glad both you and your wife are well now.
Thank you for your service in the military and for being
a part of this club!
*Song For The Day-Grand Canyon Song-Steve Goodman
If unable to find this 24 hour Thread in the future, Click on Search near top of page and
type in Newcomer Daily Support Threads and click GO! This is Part 61. God Bless!
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