hello everyone,  I'm new to this site and thanks to Sobrietyspell for suggesting i introduce myself i shall.    I first got sober in 1989 after hitting my bottom, losing material things is one thing but when one loses hope the options come down to only one of two choices..1)  Die or 2)?.   I didn't know about A.A or the 12 steps but was willing to check myself into a hospital program thinking they could strap me down and do anything they wanted to do to me..it didn't matter(truth is i didn't have the guts to off myself).    I was a grateful recovering alcoholic, I went up the company ladder and made a very respectable name for myself,got married and bought a house,new truck and took many vacations to Europe,hawaii and Mexico.  From no hope to having all my dreams come true!   I had sixteen years of sobriety.    Funny thing about reaching your dreams and working hard to reach milestones.....I was too busy to attend A.A. meetings or avail myself a sponser but heck after so many years being sober i had proved to myself i didn't need meetings or any of that stuff!    I try and stick to my own inventory but after finding out about my wifes infedelity,money problems and having ongoing migraine pain i found myself convincing myself that all i needed to do was have a nice cold beer and calm down.  After all, 16 years without drinking i felt that maybe i had made a bigger deal out of not drinking than maybe i should have.   Had that one cold beer and in a couple weeks found myself drinking 18 beers,a bottle of Jack Daniels,sniffing and taking pills and powder to help me drink more.    Six months of drinking got me 9 felony charges facing 16 years in prison...marriage was done,posessions were gone.   My moment of clarity came around 2;30am as i was drinking my bottle of Jack Daniels wishing i had something to drink!!  I remember thinking "It'll never be enough" Like the saying "One drinks too many a thousand never enough".... I know what that means!!!!   You know it's bad when you have someone over and they open a bedroom closet and out falls empty 18 packs and bottles of Jack(there was always too many to throw away in the garbage and plus ..get this.... I was afraid that the garbage man might think i was a drunk!!!)   I checked myself into a program where 2 days into it i had a bad seizure and spent a week in a hospital.   I then completed my stay and with a year of sobriety i faced a judge for sentencing.   I got the full 16 years in prison but God was doing for me what John could not do for himself.... At that time i was helping other men in a twelve step program and was also working for another company, these people stepped up to the plate and with the help of my HP convinced the judge to allow me to get into a work furlough program for 6MONTHS!!!!!  I have been sober for 3 1/2 years, am planning to be married to a wonderful women who is also in the program,have a house and a new truck.  Most of all beyond any materialistic things which do come and go is that i have balance in my life, i work the twelve steps and work with other alcoholics.    Last thing i will add is that in January i stopped by my Fathers house before i was to chair a morning meeting, I found my Father on the floor and he had passed on......Not once in this terrible time did i even consider or think about drinking and i owe this to people such as you guys in A.A. that help me to remember that i am not alone, I also thank my Higher power that helps me when i can't help myself....all that is required of me is to make an honest effort,to reach out for help and many times to do things i don't want to do like attend meetings when i feel tired or make an ammends when needed etc....    That's why i chose the name PROGRESS because it's progress rather than PERFECTION and thank GOD for that!!!!!       Thanks for being here and being who you are.    Peace and God bless you all