MAR 27, 24 .. RESENTMENT.. ANGER.. FORGIVENESS.. AMENDS..

Yes! You betcha! I full well know and realize that it is not August (month 8), September (month 9) nor is it October (month 10), the three months we usually think of when the topic is amends.  

When I received the below thought in a recent text message from a friend in the program, I absolutely had to post it here.

Whew huh?

It took my breath away!

In my opinion, here is the "Bottom Line".

We do not make amends for the other person. We make amends for ourselves. We clean our side of the street with an amend.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

I can't tell you how many times the above words have been true for me. I could write a short book about the times I made an amend to someone I did nothing to nor harmed in any way BUT I did upset and disturb them without having any idea whatsoever that I did when "they unloaded" on me.

How about some "details".

Back in (this is a "SWAG" * as to the year) March of 2000, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was underway in Alaska.

*SWAG - Some Wild Ass Guess.

A friend from the State of Georgia and his wife had come up to Fairbanks and was driving out (it is a 160 mile drive) to Manley Hot Springs to see the race. It is very rare that the Iditarod passes through Manley Hot Springs.

En route out from Fairbanks, he and his wife encountered some problems with their automobile. Someone from Manley passed them and stopped to assist them. Unable to do so, they continued out to Manley, found me and told me of the situation and exactly where they were located on the road.

I immediately contacted Ernie, who long ago passed away, a close neighbor in Manley and also a "best friend" and told him of the situation. He prepared to go out and find them and, if necessary, tow them into Manley.

The stage is set.

Absolutely, totally, 100% unknown to me, my friends from Georgia were able to get to Manley. They did not let me know. They did not check in with me. 

I had absolutely no knowledge they had gotten to Manley!!

Then Ernie (to this day I don't know how he found out) came to my cabin "in a rage" and I mean "in a rage" he "tore into me".

I was "dumbfounded" because I had no idea my friends had gotten to Manley.

Did I owe Ernie an amend?

What exactly did I do wrong?

If I hadn't gotten Ernie involved, nothing would have come of this.

BUT I did get him involved. So I made both a verbal and a handwritten amend to him.

No! Ernie was, in no way sorry for his verbal explosion, and he never apologized to me.

BUT I saved our friendship and I felt that I "did the next right thing".

By The Way! 

In 2002 my friend from Georgia, entered, participated in the Iditarod, and finished the race. The only human being from the State of Georgia to accomplish this remarkable feat of finishing an Iditarod Sled Dog Race. 

FEB 28, 24 .. DOCTOR BOB'S HOME.. AKRON, OHIO..

Tim McB, a long time, very good friend in the program, recently visited Doctor Bob's Home in Akron, Ohio. Tim sent me a few photos that he snapped while visiting not only Doctor Bob's home, but other A.A. Historical Sites in Akron.

It has been many (read MANY) years since I last published some photos of Doctor Bob's home. I used Tim's photos as a impetus to post, not only Tim's recent photos, but a few that I have taken during my visits to Doctor Bob's home dating back to August of 1988! This was "long before" I had established this website.

Will any of you explain to me "Just where the time flies away to!"

Doctor Bob's Home, Akron, Ohio.

WELCOME HOME TO ALL OF YOU!

In the above photo, off to the left of Doctor Bob's Home, is a large Ceremonial Rock.

In the below photo, taken at a later date, the Ceremonial Rock has been moved to the right side of Doctor Bob's Home.

A close up photo of the Ceremonial Rock.

I point this out because there are on-going changes and improvements to Doctor Bob's Home.

Where will The Rock be if you visit tomorrow?

Only The Shadow Knows!

The living room.

The Kitchen.

If you would like to see far more photos of Doctor Bob's Home, please click onto the below link.

https://aaphotoshere.blogspot.com/2017/10/oct-26-17-doctor-bobs-home-akron-ohio.html

One of the many very important A.A. Historical Sites in Akron, is what once was the Mayflower Hotel.

If you want the exact details of the below story, please turn to pages 136 and 137, of the A.A. Conference approved book, "Pass It On". 

Bill Wilson was in the Mayflower Hotel in May of 1935.

Feeling in a depressed mood because of a failed business attempt, Bill was in the lobby of the hotel and felt a "calling" to go into the Bar and perhaps have a ginger ale and join the happy throng in the Bar.

Bill suddenly thought, "I need another alcoholic to talk to."

Our friend Tim McB at the ancient, and no longer operational, pay phone.

Bill Wilson went to the pay phone in the lobby of The Mayflower Hotel and decided to call The Reverend Walter F. Tunks and ask him if he knew of any alcoholics that he could call. 

The Reverend Tunks gave Bill the phone number of Henrietta Seiberling. Bill went back to his room and called her.

A.A. as we now know it was in its earliest stage of birth.

Thanks Tim McB so very much for inspiring me to publish this Post.

JAN 27, 24 .. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SAYS ..

There are many outstanding meetings in Hong Kong. 

On page 62 of the November 2023 issue of the AA Grapevine Magazine, I came across a reference to an extremely interesting article about alcohol that I want to share.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION STATES THAT ..

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.

I can clearly recall many, MANY, articles stating that "some" red wine is beneficial to humans.

Although more research is needed, some studies show that red wine is good for heart health because it helps reduce the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries. Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may reduce the risk of cancer by discouraging cancer cell growth.

If you would like to read more about theories of red wine being good for one's health, please click onto the below link..

https://www.google.com/search?q=health+benefits+of+red+wind&rlz=1C1EKKP_enUS712US712&oq=health+benefits+of+red+wind&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQABgNGIAEMgkIAhAAGA0YgAQyCQgDEAAYDRiABDIJCAQQABgNGIAEMgkIBRAAGA0YgAQyCQgGEAAYDRiABDIJCAcQABgNGIAEMgkICBAAGA0YgAQyCQgJEAAYDRiABNIBCDg3MThqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

And many other various articles that stipulate "safe levels" of alcohol consumption.

I idly wonder to myself how many of you reading this are thinking to yourself : 

"I don't care what the World Health Organization says!"

Some say that the above attitude is the "Alcoholic Personality" speaking.

Personally I like to look at, to ponder, yes study, such proclamations.

Your Call .. 

You can ..

1. Click onto the below link and read more.

https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

2. Skip it.

For What It's Worth .. There you have it.

JAN 1, 24 .. HAPPY SOBER NEW YEAR 2024 WISHES TO ONE AND TO ALL

Don't Drink..

Find an AA meeting and go inside.

Don't Drink..

Take the cotton out of your ears..

Don't Drink..

Put the cotton in your mouth and listen..

Don't Drink..

Get a Sponsor..

Don't Drink..

Get a Big Book..

Don't Drink..

Read the Big Book..

Don't Drink..

Begin working the 12 Steps..

Don't Drink..

Find a Higher Power..

Don't Drink..

Help another Alcoholic..

Don't Drink..

Get into service work..

Don't Drink..

Don't die..

You will end up with a lot of Sober Days.

That IS all there is to IT!

Smiles and again, have a Happy Sober New Year 2024.