AUG 29, 24 .. I WAS SPEECHLESS.. WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY..

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think at least a few of us have our 'Heroes' in A.A.

What is an 'A.A. Hero'? Another member who we really relate to.

Perhaps my favorite 'Hero' was Bob Earll. Bob would often begin a talk with the following words as he stood at the speakers podium: "I wonder what I am going to say?"

Then he would fuss and fidget with the podium and then begin to share his experience, strength and hope.

Back in December of 2018, I was, by invitation, speaking at a number of A.A. meetings in the town of Kyzyl, located in the Republic of Tuva, in Russia Siberia.

I had been speaking at typical local A.A. meetings located in various rooms, treatment centers, jails, churches and other institutions including some public meetings.

On this day I had been asked to speak at the main Kyzyl Hospital.

No big deal! Correct? I've been here and I've done this.

I thought, I assumed, that I would be speaking at a hospital based treatment center for alcoholics or perhaps a local A.A. meeting located in the hospital.

Mike, my translator, and I began by being escorted from the main entrance into the suite of the hospital chief executive (CEO). There I was hailed as a 'hero' by the CEO. Photos of us together were taken. I noticed a wall full of photos of various people with the CEO so I figured this was his routine.

So far, so good.

Then this small entourage (a group of people attending or surrounding an important person) of us proceeded to a room where hospital staff members were entering along with us.

Mike, myself, and the CEO, took our place on an elevated stage as the room continued to fill up with attendees.

Suddenly it occurred to me! 

"Oh No! This is not an A.A. Meeting. These are doctors and other medical personnel. What on earth am I going to say!"

And Bob Earll came to mind! 

Finally, the room filled, everyone got silent and settled, and I was introduced to the audience (all in the Russian language).

And I was (trust me!) intensely thinking.. "What on earth am I going to say!"

Mike said, time to speak!

As I slowly, and deliberately, stood up, I was still thinking.. "What on earth am I going to say!"

After coming to full attention, I stood silently for maybe ten seconds, looking out at my audience and the following words came out of my mouth..

"I have bad news for you this afternoon! You think that I have answers to the problem of alcoholism. I am sorry, neither myself nor anyone else has the answers as to what causes alcoholism, how to cure it, and how to deal with it!"

"I am a member of a program called Alcoholics Anonymous or A.A. IF someone wants to stop drinking alcohol, then perhaps we in A.A. can assist them to become sober."

I then talked for ninety (90) full minutes. 

Below is a photo that I snapped.

When I give a talk such as this, I stress to my audience: "If you have any questions, please interrupt me at any time, because you will forget your questions by the time I finish my talk." 

In my humble opinion, based upon the barrage of questions that I received during and after my talk, it was well received. 

SEP 28, 21 .. A RHETORICAL QUESTION ..

Here is the Rhetorical Question : 

Do any of you know how any human being (we will assume another Alcoholic) can instill into another human being the desire to go to any lengths in order to stop drinking alcohol?

Several years ago (it was December of 2018) I was speaking in Kyzyl, Russian Siberia. As was always the case, I never knew what I would find when we (me and Mike my Russian translator) entered into a venue. 

I always assumed it would be an AA meeting or something to do with AA (visiting a rehabilitation center etc). 

When we entered a very large building, I noticed from the people in the corridors (nurses and medical gurneys etc) it was a hospital and I assumed that we would be speaking at an inpatient rehabilitation center within the hospital.

When we got to the top floor, we entered into a large room and we were seated at a table up on a stage. Then, wonder of wonders, into the room flowed an assembly of young men and women wearing white doctor's coats. After everyone was seated, an important (he was the head of the hospital) man came into the room with an aide. After we were formally introducted, he joined us sitting next to me on my right with Mike on my left.

I turned to Mike and asked what was happening. Mike calmly turned to me and said that I was going to address the graduating class of medical students.

I nearly fainted on-the-spot. I am used to talking to groups of AA members or at least other alcoholics wanting to get sober.

I thought silently to myself : What on earth am I going to say to this assembled multitude of graduating medical students?

Bob Earll, one of my AA heros, often would say when he got up to address the attendees at a conference : I wonder what I am going to say today?

After some preliminary remarks by the head of the hospital the time came for me to stand and deliver.

As I stood up (and I mean this) I thought what on earth am I going to say?

OK. Lights, camera, action.

I stood and silently looked out at the group, looking from front to back and from side to side. I have seen this technique used by other speakers addressing other groups than AA members.

And? Here are my opening words :

"I have bad news for you all. I feel that you expect me to have the answer to the issue of alcoholism and, sad to say, I don't have any answers. However, IF someone wants to stop drinking alcohol, we in Alcoholics Anonymous stand ready to assist them."

And? I spoke for two hours. 

I always encouraged attendees to interupt me during my talks because people forget their questions if they have to wait until the end of a talk. And their questions assist me to steer my comments in different directions as applicable.

And? I answered a lot of questions during and after my talk. But I could not answer the question of how anyone can successfully transmit to another the desire to go to any length to stop drinking alcohol. 

That desire MUST originate within the individual himself or herself.

Judging from the reception and enthusiasm of the questions and comments, and the fact the two hours flew past as if twenty minutes, it turned out to be a successful day for the group.

Still smiling about this day in my life.

JAN 4, 19 .. A MOST SPECIAL MEETING IN KYZYL, RUSSIAN SIBERIA

At this point in my life, I have been to, and spoken at, many meetings. Once in awhile, from time to time, a meeting will be very special. This meeting will rank in my top five all time.

To begin with, it was NOT an A.A. Meeting per se. Au contraire! It was a meeting of local people who live in this one district or small individual community of Kyzyl. These kind and gentle folks have real concerns about the major problem of alcoholism and of how it is affecting their youth and their individual lives. I was asked to address this community meeting and to explain to them what A.A. is and how it works.

Do you want special! 

Here you have it : A Very Special Meeting.

Right off the bat, I was deeply touched by the humble paper Christmas Trees when we walked up to the entrance of the building where the meeting was going to be held.

These humble paper Christmas Trees are doing their very utmost to be the Spirit of Christmas.

I was ushered into the office of the Administrative Manager of the Community Council. A lady.

Forgive me BUT I could not resist taking the two below photos!

 I'm not sure IF I have ever seen a glass slipper as a part of someone's mementos celebrating various awards!

She smiled at my taking a photo of her awards.

"Good boy Captain! You did not single out the glass slipper and ask her about it!"

We arrived early. The meeting room was being set up.

The meeting, all of it, was recorded on audio and video. I mean this was a big deal to the local residents.

The meeting was called to order at around 11am.

Then a ONE hour and twenty minute agenda, presentation, celebration, words fail me, followed.

The passion, and the love, and the humble sincerity with which the lady below sang, brought me to tears. She was dressed-up-to-the-nines! I've never been witness to such vocal passion!

She was about five minutes into her presentation when I said to myself : "If I don't snap some photos of her I'll regret not doing so for the rest of my life!"

She had as beautiful a singing voice as I've ever heard.

Then the below couple began to dance to her beautiful singing.

Then the above dancing lady in blue took the microphone.

In the above photo, can you see the first singer in the background?

The man below came out of the gutter to find and to celebrate recovery.

In between the singers, a number of individuals spoke with passion about the issue of alcoholism.

And another group took the stage.

During the above one hour and twenty minute presentation, I began to think to myself : "Captain. How do you follow this build up?"

Patti, somewhere in the mix my nose began to bleed. A real nose bleed. In front of the audience. Then it went on for perhaps 15-minutes. Been here done this. I had toilet paper / napkins / one of Claudia's nose-bleed-plugs to sop-it-up. Luckily it finally stopped before I spoke.

Finally my time came to wrap-up-the-meeting. 

I probably spoke about 30 minutes. I haven't one clue as to what I said but I  felt very good and very positive about it.

During the after-the-meeting meal, many people expressed their thanks to me.

Lord God of Abraham .. Thank You for allowing me this opportunity to carry the message you've given me to carry.