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basket we hope you enjoyed the podcast have a great day age nine I drank some kerosene age 10

1941 the jack Alexander story came out I was 10 years old and I read about it. I read it a couple of times at least. My father was an alcoholic and I wish he'd go with these people because I wanted him to go with them and, you know, maybe something could change. He didn't. Age 12, I wanted to go outside the house and drink and I had too much parental controls age 15 to 16 I started going out

you know drinking a little beer down by the railroad tracks age 17 I got away to a resort and I just took to alcohol like a duck takes to water.

I really, maybe not consciously, but at least I certainly was beginning to turn my will

in life over the care of alcohol.

I loved it.

I really did.

I just, every bit of it, any element that was connected to it and the effects and everything else and I'd get through the hangovers and all that because

I was you know I was just able to I couldn't get up for work but all that stuff anyway

at the age of 18 my mother sent me to a psychiatrist because of my drinking.

And at the age of 18, I was also sent to my first AA meeting, and that was in 1950.

And I went and I thought to a nice bunch of people, and maybe someday I'd come back and play

checkers with them because they were really good.

One fellow said, isn't it good?

He's coming in now because the traditions are coming out.

So anyway, John came back, the guy that gave me a ride, came back next week and said he'd take me back to the meeting.

I said, no, I'd be able to handle myself.

And I went right back out drinking and then about oh maybe 10 or 11 years after that I went to Alcoholics Anonymous

because I wanted more control especially in the marriage

I managed to stay sober four four and a half months.

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