Lucy G. is one of those rare members of Alcoholics Anonymous who found the 12-Steps by participating in another program for many years before she came into AA. In fact, Lucy’s experience in Al-Anon was sufficient enough to help her deal with the alcoholics in her life, while her own use and then abuse of alcohol, continued completely unabated in the background. So, though she had gained lots of knowledge about the disease, it wasn’t until after her kids were grown and out of the house, that her own alcoholism took control of her life. Binge drinking, then an ever increasing dependence on alcohol, assailed her for years until she had hit her bottom. Fortunately, because of her attendance as an Al-Anon member of a few open AA meetings years earlier, she found the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous.

And, despite some of the similarities between the programs, Lucy still found herself starting at Step 1 in AA, along with the usual struggles new-comers often face. I met Lucy when she first got sober and have attended many meetings with her over the years. Through her quirky early weeks of trying to interior decorate the AA club, Lucy settled down into a solid program, guided by a strong sponsor, and supported through the fellowship she quickly embraced in the rooms. At 13 years sober, Lucy has become a model AA citizen and a dependable member of our AA club. Hers is a story I think you’ll enjoy and I invite you to kick back for the next hour with my good friend and AA sister, Lucy G.

Visit the AA Recovery Interviews website for more information and to contact me, Howard L.

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To contact Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, visit aa.org.

Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and more than 50 original stories most people have never seen. If you’ve only read the Fourth Edition, these amazing stories will be brand new to you. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com

[Disclaimer: In strict adherence to A.A.’s traditions, my anonymous guests and I speak for ourselves only, not for Alcoholics Anonymous at large. We share only our personal experiences with A.A. recovery. We acknowledge that AA’s sole concern is the recovery and continued sobriety of those alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. As members of AA, our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. – Howard L.]