January 19, 2024
Mike R passed away. Who was Mike? Mike was the one who
reached out to me at an AA meeting at Annunciation Catholic Church in
Washington DC back in the Spring of 1989.
I was newly sober and struggling with life in sobriety.
Back then I had no direction and idea where I was going as I
had very little sobriety time. I was going to meetings but not really getting
much out of it. I was not drinking and that was good but I was very unhappy and
not sure if sobriety was the right decision. I was a lost cause who needed
guidance. I told myself I would give the Saturday night meeting at Annunciation
a chance but that it was likely my last meeting and I probably would go back
out there drinking as I was comfortable at bars and parties with a drink(s) in
my hand.
As the meeting was about to start, Mike pulled up a chair,
sat next to me and could probably sense this, I am sure. After the meeting
closed, we talked about sports, sobriety and I felt pretty good. I felt comfortable
for once and left thinking I found some hope, that I still wanted to give
sobriety a chance.
A couple days after we meet, Mike takes me and a couple
other folks from the program to an Orioles game. I believe it was the first
sporting event I had ever been to sober and during the ride up and during the
game we all talked about the program, the Orioles contending and other things.
The friendship grew, my meeting attendance increased thanks to Mike taking me everywhere.
I did not have a car then and he took me to experience more types of meetings
and meet other people. We played golf with others from the program. Mike told
me to think of it as a five - hour AA meeting. Through him and his wife Rosalie
I got to know folks and my confidence in the program and staying sober grew.
I accumulated time and over the years we would talk a few
times a week. We went to a lot of sporting events. I think I was the one who
really got him interested in hockey and the Washington Capitals.
Mike was a sponsor in my wedding. He followed my adventures
as a dad to my son Ben when I was on Facebook so he knew where I was in life. If
I keep my head straight one day at a time, next month I celebrate 35 years of
sobriety. I would not be where I am today without him.
In closing, Mike really enjoyed the second chance he had in
life thanks to his sobriety. He was someone I really enjoyed being around
whether it was at a meeting, sporting event or golf course. RIP Mike, and I
know I am not the only one to say this but you saved my life. Thank you for
reaching out to a lost cause that Saturday night at Annunciation Catholic
Church in the Spring of 1989. Rest easy.
Bill B.
Sterling,
VA
