Jack and Jill went up the hill, Jack to sober up at the Jitter Joint.. Jack came down the hill a few weeks later and got drunk in the first bar he saw. I was laughing so hard at my little limerick that I almost fell off my chair. I would repeat it several times to myself and burst out laughing.. The group was watching me closely, this was my 5^th day sober I seemed to be de-toxing at the meetings. The words were cutting me in half but the music was soothing to the spirit at the same time.. I was riding, soon to find out what they called the pink cloud...I sobered up with two meetings on a Saturday.. I heard this fellow Don speak. He was in jail.. I never knew anyone from jail.. and now he was an alcoholic councilor in the Post Office.. The mans sincerity touched my soul and I was offered spiritually that day the gift of sobriety. Howard did not think I was old enough for AA at 30 yrs of age...I did not want to leave AA, thinking to myself. .wait till they find out all I drank in that 12 yrs of drinking; besides, I found out in my first meeting Bill W. the co- founder of AA and I shared the same occupation both N.Y. stockbrokers. .so maybe that proved I was indeed in the right place. That night where there was darkness, now there was light.. I waited next morning in the snow.. my whole being feeling as white and clean as this new Massachusetts snow cover. I was a member of the Marblehead group heading to the Sunday morning meeting... In summer we sailed and drank ..in the winter there was no sailing and that was the problem.. I just drank. at the end, I couldnt go to work nor did I even know who I was working forDons words about the Jitter Joint set me off.. I couldnt stop laughing. Maybe I needed a Jitter Joint. I heard something else that got me into instant hysterical laughing.. Get out of the drivers seat. .My sponsor Patsy had my car keys.. and I would not get them back for at least a week ..It was a small town.. my car lost somewhere in the snow thank God...

No Jitter Joint for me, I toughed it out.. More than once after the meeting ended, I climbed back through the window laid on the floor, thinking this a safe place, shaking, needing a drink so bad.. But slowly I started to get healthy physically working out at the Salem YMCA.. It was decided as spring rolled around.. I wouldnt stay sober sailing that year.. Sailing consisted of 10 cases of beer aboard our competitive racing sailboat,.2 lbs of baloney.. 2 loaves of bread for a crew of 5 as we raced and partied the weekend away....so I moved to Florida. I lived with my parents on the beach. Money was no problem.. I had more than enough but I was still very mocus.. I joined a local group the Indian Rocks Beach Group

The group was all excited, Vince G. , a scientist, was going to Washington.. It was decided that the 11^th tradition would be purposefully violated at the level of Press, Radio and Film.. Gary Moore long time AA member and television personality spearheaded that movement.. I remember the Sunday edition of the St. Pete Times with a big article and picture of this prestigious group of 50 well placed Alcoholics. .I remember my mother and father impressed as Im sure the general public across the country.That was in 1975...In 1976 as I may remember two events again changed the course of recovery.. Wilbur Mills a long term member of Congress and I believe head of the Ways and Means Committee was found drunk as a hoot owl swimming around a Washington Park Fountain. This mover and shaker publicly eventually became a valuable member of AA for many years.. The second major event was the admission of Betty Ford that she was an Alcoholic.. The public forewarned by the 2 aforementioned events, that Alcoholism was a pervasive illness throughout American Society was very sympathetic and supportive of her recovery. You did not send the Presidents lady to a Jitter Joint.. commonly referred to by the good old timers but a Treatment Facility.. Later when Mrs Ford began to recover there was inaugurated the Betty Ford Center

This event initiated a new growing Industry.. The Treatment Center Industry.. Where once the desperate alcoholic of only personal means shelled out a modest amount of money to a jitter joint ,the Insurance industry were in with both feet and these elaborate establishments were off and running.. many making fantastic and misleading claims of success.

Societys views were changing and the 60s generation was entering maturity.. Some of our great rock guitar stars went into treatment.. Treatment and Alcoholic recovery was the hot topic of the day.. The public could not get enough reading about this.. Headlines abounded in all the scandal rags.. there was an expression.. all the good Hollywood parts could be found in AA.. dual addiction obfuscated matters even further.. With the avalanche of public interest and confusion mis-information has abounded and has seemed that way for quite some time... (LOL) a treatment facility is only a Jitter Joint to dry out and only puts someone on the long road to recovery . I like what it says in the Big Bookif you find another way our hats are off to you.. But I will say as a sober AA member of many years, since that first meeting, it has worked for me thus allowing me to share this personal experience with you., a small sliver of history as I have experienced it. Both Treatment Centers and AA, as I see it work hand and hand.. but there needs to be a clear differentiation and understanding of their respective goals. In helping the sick and recovering alcoholic.

Tomas

S/V WorldWind

Am. Samoa