This came up again recently so I thought I'd pose the question to this group. I'm grateful to have developed a community of many sober friends. All of my "prior" friends know that I am in AA. I live in a large city, so often we'll run into an AA friend on the street and we'll stop to chat, and my non-AA friend will ask, "So how do you two know each other?" I would tell the truth, but don't want to "out" the AA friend if they want to remain anonymous, and there's obviously no way to ascertain their feelings about it on the spot.
Now I usually say "We're friends of friends" or something to that effect (after all, we're both friends of Bill!), but that feels like lying, and I'd love a more clever response, if someone has one.
GG
I just tell the other person I belong to a number of Group activities and that one is a member also. That leaves it for the other person to figure out which one--especially if that person does not belong in/pr goto all of the same ones you do.
Some family members can be a whole different story--my parents hid my troubles/problems from a number of family members/friends. Some of them I ran into and was asked why I did not drive anymore--told them plain and simple. Others told me they had had problems while younger and wished they had started in the program earlier.
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of..... I do it the way I was taught. "Thats one of my best friends or buds etc." Keep it simple and keep it honest.
I usually look them in the eye and answer "biblically", which is my way of saying "none of your business" since to "know" someone in the "biblical sense" means to have had sex with them. Truthfully the people I associate with now don't ask questions like that ya know? emotional maturity and respecting others space n stuff coming with age, I come down pretty swiftly on what I view as unwanted personal intrusions, and at this point have no embarrassment looking at someone in the eyes and simply stating "none of your business"
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
how about you met at a star trek convention? or a (fill in the blank) fan site - music, sports,...i personally like i met them at a miniature pony convention.... nothing more is said!
I usually look them in the eye and answer "biblically"
That made me LOL, thank you, I'll have to try that one. I should add that these are good friends, they're not being nosy, they're just making conversation and trying to get to know a new person.
Also, upon re-reading, I felt the need to clarify that my last response was not intended to be dismissive of people who go to church. It's just that coming from me, it would be as absurd a response as "I met her while we were living on Venus."
On an unrelated note, I hope everyone is having a fun and sober 4th!
