The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
It might be better for us to go to a Spanish one next time - the only reason we didn't is bc the only Spanish one is an hour away and by the time I get off work it'd be too late - he missed out on going to that one last Sunday bc of the came. I have to admit, environment was a bit unnerving at first. My husband was the only hispanic there - which I think made him uncomfortable, especially since he's nervous abt talking bc of his accent. I was worried at first bc everyone had these country accents - I know it's a steriotype - but I thought oh God I hope no one here is anti-Mexican. We live in TX and with all of the Immigration issues lately - we run into this quite a bit. Anyway, nearly everyone smoked, cigarrette after cigarrette - the room was pretty small and not well ventellated. AH and I don't smoke on a regular basis so we weren't used to sitting there breathing smoke for an hour and a half. There was a woman who had what seemed to be some long-term side-effects of alcohol and/or drug addiction. I think she said she was several years sober. She laughed alot - but it came out like a weird witchy cackle. With the combonation of everything, I thought oh gosh, AH is gonna walk out - this is too much for him, but we sat down. They read out all of the steps & traditions - and some other procedural stuff. This was a newcomer meeting. I felt much more at ease as people began to give a brief recount of their experiences and how far they'd come. Everyone cracked up when this one man - who'd suffered from Schitzophrenia said he'd gotten off of the drugs/alcohol, & now was on medication for his illness, and he said "it took away my phsycic abilities, I can't read minds anymore". I guess it sounds mean to laugh, but everyone was, including him. We heard a couple of stories similar to ours - a couple of men talked abt having the same issue - not drinking all the time, but when they did drink they couldn't have just a couple. Once everyone had spoken, we all stood up, held hands, and said the Lord's Prayer. A few men came to AH and gave him the typical advice - "it's hard but if you stick to it and keep coming, things will get better". Overall it was a positive experience - I think AH got something out of it. Thanks for the support everyone!!
I am glad y'all went to a meeting. I am not a smoker and am very anti-smoking....so if I had walked in there and it was nothing but a cloud of smoke - I would have walked right back out. But that is just me....I don't handle smoke well at all. My AH smokes but not in my house or car and if he is outside smoking on the deck, I usually steer clear making sure he knows it is b/c of him smoking.
As far as your A's drinking....my AH isn't the type of A that drinks every day either. Just give him one drink and he cannot stop until it is all gone or he has passed out. I think that is why it was so hard for me to believe he had a drinking problem until after his drug problem surfaced. That is when I finally admitted it to myself and others. Years and years of denial.
Snaps to you for going with your A and showing him your support. Keep us posted. Sincerely, QOD
Around here, all the meetings are non smoking - they usually have a break about 45 minutes in for a smoke, and then go back in and finish the meeting. But then, here, all public places are non smoking, I think.
Glad it went pretty well - I would hope that you would not encounter racism at an AA meeting, but humans being what they are, it might happen sometimes....
Glad that ya'll went to the meeting. That is a big first step for your AH.
My experience in dealing with recovery is there is a lot more acceptance of all persons, regardless of outside issues - others may have had different experiences, but I haven't. I have seen and grown a lot in the area of learning that this disease has no boundaries - discriminates against no one. All types are affected.
In our area, you can usually find out which meetings are smoking and non-smoking - I too don't like to attend smoking meetings. Hard for me to listen when I'm hacking (coughing) up a lung - lol.
Hope you are able to find the meeting that works for you & that your AH will find a meeting that he will be comfortable with too.
Wishing you Serenity & Joy, Rita
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
Hon they gotta laugh or they will cry . Sounds like a good meeting , now what about you > are u looking for Al-Anon for yourself ? Sure hope so , two programs ya got a better chance . Louise Learning to laugh at ourselves is to me a gift .
~Gurl25
