Sigh. In what part of this did I endorse the AA approach to alcoholism? Where did I link to AA, suggest that alcoholics take themselves to AA, or otherwise, in any way, shape, form, or fashion, imply that I think AA is the answer to anything at all?
The story may be apocryphal, as I've encountered it a few times in the past - but that doesn't make it any less true, in either a literal or metaphorical sense. It's always an enjoyable read when I encounter it, as well as a valuable life lesson.
The person I heard it from claimed to have heard it from "John" himself, and he DID move to an area near my part of the South from St. Louis, which did have a huge AA district with something like 120 groups in it. And I don't think that guy would lie. But when he told it to me it was already 20-ish years old, and he was in his 70s, so....yeah, who knows?
It's not necessary for parables to be literally true. Neither is it necessary for us to "know" the extent of their truth. Good stories will be enhanced in the retelling - as that is the gift of a story teller: to wrap us up in the story, so that we remember it and act upon its lessons.
It’s a wonderful story that works as a parable, regardless of its literal truth. However, what you describe is the “friend of a friend” structure found in most urban myths. You friend probably believed it happened, but it didn’t happen to him; it happened to his friend. Are we sure it wasn’t his friend’s friend, and maybe he condensed it a bit in the telling? I mean, if I repeated this, I might very well say “Holly’s Friend,” and no the friend of Holly’s friend.
My dad was an alcoholic. He stopped drinking when I was four years old. I've heard enough stories like this one to know that it certainly could have been true.
Dad didn't drink every day, but was a binge drunk. He'd go 8 or 9 month without drinking, then he drank until he could keep nothing on his stomach. He wasn't violent. He only hurt himself and, emotionally, his family. With the help of a neighbor he got sober. He and the neighbor drove 85 miles one way to AA meetings twice a week for one year until they could form their own group. Dad became one of the members who would "answer the call" and go visit when a drunk needed help.
Dad died at 79 with 42 years of sobriety and until the day he died, he would still "answer the call."
He always kept a pint of whiskey in a dresser drawer and I asked him one day "Why?" "It's to remind me of all I have to lose if I ever take another drink."
Never heard this story buts its essence is certainly believable even if the details may not be. I have attended many NA and some AA meetings to support a friend who took years to get clean even after a literally near death experience as the result of a stroke at age 37 that resulted in a 4 month coma and multi year recovery effort . Now she has been clean for over 26 years but the road is incredibly difficult both to become and remain clean and sober and the stories told in the meeting rooms are incredible.
I’ve had too many (far less dramatic) coincidences like this in my life to count. God certainly has a sense of humor about how He seems to answer my prayers. Or I’m going pleasantly insane. It’s fun either way.
Sigh. In what part of this did I endorse the AA approach to alcoholism? Where did I link to AA, suggest that alcoholics take themselves to AA, or otherwise, in any way, shape, form, or fashion, imply that I think AA is the answer to anything at all?
For fuck’s sake. This isn’t about AA. If you want to write a post about how AA is terrible, write it on your own Substack.
I’m so sorry to have offended you and hope we can still be friends!
The story may be apocryphal, as I've encountered it a few times in the past - but that doesn't make it any less true, in either a literal or metaphorical sense. It's always an enjoyable read when I encounter it, as well as a valuable life lesson.
Thank you.
The person I heard it from claimed to have heard it from "John" himself, and he DID move to an area near my part of the South from St. Louis, which did have a huge AA district with something like 120 groups in it. And I don't think that guy would lie. But when he told it to me it was already 20-ish years old, and he was in his 70s, so....yeah, who knows?
It's not necessary for parables to be literally true. Neither is it necessary for us to "know" the extent of their truth. Good stories will be enhanced in the retelling - as that is the gift of a story teller: to wrap us up in the story, so that we remember it and act upon its lessons.
So I choose to believe this story's truth.
It’s a wonderful story that works as a parable, regardless of its literal truth. However, what you describe is the “friend of a friend” structure found in most urban myths. You friend probably believed it happened, but it didn’t happen to him; it happened to his friend. Are we sure it wasn’t his friend’s friend, and maybe he condensed it a bit in the telling? I mean, if I repeated this, I might very well say “Holly’s Friend,” and no the friend of Holly’s friend.
Thanks. This made my day.
My dad was an alcoholic. He stopped drinking when I was four years old. I've heard enough stories like this one to know that it certainly could have been true.
Dad didn't drink every day, but was a binge drunk. He'd go 8 or 9 month without drinking, then he drank until he could keep nothing on his stomach. He wasn't violent. He only hurt himself and, emotionally, his family. With the help of a neighbor he got sober. He and the neighbor drove 85 miles one way to AA meetings twice a week for one year until they could form their own group. Dad became one of the members who would "answer the call" and go visit when a drunk needed help.
Dad died at 79 with 42 years of sobriety and until the day he died, he would still "answer the call."
He always kept a pint of whiskey in a dresser drawer and I asked him one day "Why?" "It's to remind me of all I have to lose if I ever take another drink."
He's still the best man I've ever known.
Love this story every time I hear it. Sometimes, when you're ready to do something about your life, something happens to give you the chance.
Never heard this story buts its essence is certainly believable even if the details may not be. I have attended many NA and some AA meetings to support a friend who took years to get clean even after a literally near death experience as the result of a stroke at age 37 that resulted in a 4 month coma and multi year recovery effort . Now she has been clean for over 26 years but the road is incredibly difficult both to become and remain clean and sober and the stories told in the meeting rooms are incredible.
I’ve had too many (far less dramatic) coincidences like this in my life to count. God certainly has a sense of humor about how He seems to answer my prayers. Or I’m going pleasantly insane. It’s fun either way.