I was born in 1960, the youngest of four, in Baltimore Maryland. We lived right in the middle of the city. I remember the first time I was hanging out with the big guys who were much older than me. They must have been at least 14 or 15 years old. I was nine then. I cannot tell you my first bubble gum, pizza or ice cream, but I can tell you my first drink; Boones Farm Strawberry Hill Wine. What I remember most is that it ran out far too quickly. That became the pattern of my drinking for many years to come.

It wasn't until many years and countless debacles later that I discovered that I suffered from a disease. I learned that a person craving liquor the way I did was allergic to booze and could not start drinking without setting off an allergic reaction. My new friends also taught me that the way my mind operated was insane. I would have moments when I would forget all that had happened and start drinking as if it was the most sensible thing in the world to do. I had developed such an obsession for drinking that to try and stop on my own will power proved to be ineffective.

After another of my escapades that was going to land me in prison for the next ten years, I became willing to do anything that would help; anything but stop drinking. A friend I partied with suggested that I attend a meeting with him. Upon going to my first meeting I got good and trashed (my usual state) and off I went. When I got there I was completely shocked. There were "normal" looking people there; young, old, male, female, some down on their luck and others well off. What were they doing here, I wondered. No guys in trench coats with their brown bottles. I couldn't accept them as drinkers. Maybe one or two too many after work once in awhile, but serious drinkers, no way! Then I began to hear them talk and maybe they had been drunk before.

As the stories unfolded, I could identify with the loneliness, remorse and pain of the struggles an alcoholic goes through. I also heard the 12 steps and for the first time I was hearing people say there was a way to stop drinking no matter how much you consume. I heard why I couldn't stop, and how a power greater than myself could get me to stop if I was to follow the steps and meet the requirements. They also told me that there was some suggestions that could make my life better than I had ever known. So I began to go to the fellowship meetings more and more, and to follow the suggestions to the best of my ability.

It has not been easy for me. I have returned to drinking numerous times. Each time I would return back to the fellowship, and with their help try to follow the program to find out how not to repeat that action. After several years of relapsing, while in recovery I was introduced to my sponsor who taught me the program as it was in 1939. I was smoking everything I could get my hands on, and then I stopped smoking. I had a vital spiritual awakening and I recovered. This stopped me from thinking about drinking. With the thought gone, the action followed. By stopping activating the allergy I had a new lease on life.

I have learned a way of life that gets better and better as I apply the suggestions of the 12 steps to my daily life. I am a very happy person today. My life is better than I could have dreamed. I am also convinced that as long as I apply the principles of the program that I learned while studying the Big Book, and I keep attending the fellowship of AA, I will stay safe and protected by a power which is greater than myself that does miracles for me and countless others.