I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about who
I should pick to give it to me.

It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to have
"Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in multiples
of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up to
the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they hug,
they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during and
after getting sober. So here's my question...

My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor has
certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we would
be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in my
recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary that
sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
spouse have been asked to do it to.

I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break down
and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the AA'ers
in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
program.

I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is, that
although I have called him several times in the past for help and just to be
there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends. But
it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year and
we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he first
came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.

I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really an AA
meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic. But
at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for what
she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing the
intro for me.

So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my sponsor?
Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro for
100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my wife's
feelings?

Inquiring minds want to know...

i would recommend that you have your sponsor give you your chip, and YOU
thank your wife from the podium!

jmo,
rosie

--






"Tim Harden" <none@yourbiz.com> wrote in message
news:P1mKf.1654$%m4.1023@newssvr33.news.prodigy.co m...
> I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about
> who
> I should pick to give it to me.
>
> It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to have
> "Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in
> multiples
> of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up to
> the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
> sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they hug,
> they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during
> and
> after getting sober. So here's my question...
>
> My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor
> has
> certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
> would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we
> would
> be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in my
> recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
> certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
> alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary
> that
> sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
> spouse have been asked to do it to.
>
> I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break
> down
> and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
> because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the
> AA'ers
> in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
> wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
> program.
>
> I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is,
> that
> although I have called him several times in the past for help and just to
> be
> there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends.
> But
> it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year and
> we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he first
> came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.
>
> I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really an
> AA
> meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic.
> But
> at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for what
> she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing
> the
> intro for me.
>
> So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my sponsor?
> Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
> she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro for
> 100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my wife's
> feelings?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know...
>
>

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 16:23:11 GMT, "Tim Harden" <none@yourbiz.com>
wrote:

>I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about who
>I should pick to give it to me.
>
>It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to have
>"Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in multiples
>of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up to
>the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
>sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they hug,
>they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during and
>after getting sober. So here's my question...
>
>My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor has
>certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
>would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we would
>be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in my
>recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
>certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
>alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary that
>sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
>spouse have been asked to do it to.
>
>I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break down
>and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
>because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the AA'ers
>in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
>wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
>program.
>
>I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is, that
>although I have called him several times in the past for help and just to be
>there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends. But
>it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year and
>we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he first
>came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.
>
>I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really an AA
>meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic. But
>at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for what
>she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing the
>intro for me.
>
>So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my sponsor?
>Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
>she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro for
>100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my wife's
>feelings?
>
>Inquiring minds want to know...
>
>
Sheesh ,do what you want to do....Good job on the birthday

Keep it Simple
Daveb

Tim Harden wrote:
> I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about who
> I should pick to give it to me.

Congrads on the length, now your are *one* of us... ;-) .
IMHO .. you worry too much ... short, sweet, to the point,
and get to the cake. It doesn't matter who does what,
there is no *formal protocol* ...

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"Tim Harden" <none@yourbiz.com> wrote in message
news:P1mKf.1654$%m4.1023@newssvr33.news.prodigy.co m...
> I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about
> who
> I should pick to give it to me.
>
> It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to have
> "Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in
> multiples
> of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up to
> the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
> sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they hug,
> they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during
> and
> after getting sober. So here's my question...
>
> My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor
> has
> certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
> would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we
> would
> be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in my
> recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
> certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
> alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary
> that
> sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
> spouse have been asked to do it to.
>
> I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break
> down
> and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
> because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the
> AA'ers
> in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
> wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
> program.
>
> I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is,
> that
> although I have called him several times in the past for help and just to
> be
> there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends.
> But
> it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year and
> we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he first
> came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.
>
> I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really an
> AA
> meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic.
> But
> at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for what
> she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing
> the
> intro for me.
>
> So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my sponsor?
> Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
> she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro for
> 100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my wife's
> feelings?
>
> Inquiring minds want to know..

i'd forego the drama and claim it myself...

and call me superstitious but i don't make plans about my sobriety beyond
today.

congrats.

-steve

"[[]]" <[[]]@[[]].com> wrote in message
news:zqGLf.633$tn2.418@fe23.usenetserver.com...
>
> "Tim Harden" <none@yourbiz.com> wrote in message
> news:P1mKf.1654$%m4.1023@newssvr33.news.prodigy.co m...
>> I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about
>> who
>> I should pick to give it to me.
>>
>> It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to
>> have
>> "Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in
>> multiples
>> of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up to
>> the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
>> sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they hug,
>> they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during
>> and
>> after getting sober. So here's my question...
>>
>> My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor
>> has
>> certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
>> would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we
>> would
>> be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in my
>> recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
>> certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
>> alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary
>> that
>> sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
>> spouse have been asked to do it to.
>>
>> I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break
>> down
>> and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
>> because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the
>> AA'ers
>> in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
>> wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
>> program.
>>
>> I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is,
>> that
>> although I have called him several times in the past for help and just to
>> be
>> there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends.
>> But
>> it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year
>> and
>> we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he
>> first
>> came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.
>>
>> I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really an
>> AA
>> meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic.
>> But
>> at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for
>> what
>> she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing
>> the
>> intro for me.
>>
>> So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my
>> sponsor?
>> Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
>> she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro for
>> 100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my wife's
>> feelings?
>>
>> Inquiring minds want to know..
>
> i'd forego the drama and claim it myself...
>
> and call me superstitious but i don't make plans about my sobriety beyond
> today.
>
> congrats.
>
> -steve

Yo, Steve, has this happened to you? I was talking with my brother
about sobriety dates and we think that it's like anniversaries in general or
kids' birthdays -- we each can easily remember the month and the day but
sometimes we have to stop and count back to figure out the year.
I personally agree about coins and dates for my own purposes. I do
better when I just stay centered on "now," but many people do need the
validation of ceremonies. Look at how important they are to marriages,
military morale and religion. It seems to be a human need.

"Dan McGown" <dmcgown@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:hq6dnfpsufrxpGLeRVn-rg@adelphia.com...
>
> "[[]]" <[[]]@[[]].com> wrote in message
> news:zqGLf.633$tn2.418@fe23.usenetserver.com...
>>
>> "Tim Harden" <none@yourbiz.com> wrote in message
>> news:P1mKf.1654$%m4.1023@newssvr33.news.prodigy.co m...
>>> I'll be getting my one year chip next month and I have a question about
>>> who
>>> I should pick to give it to me.
>>>
>>> It's a tradition (as I probably is for many AA meetings to do so), to
>>> have
>>> "Birthday Night" once a month to celebrate lengths of sobriety in
>>> multiples
>>> of a year. Often times the alcoholic will have their sponsore come up
>>> to
>>> the podium, say a few words about their sponcee getting their chip. The
>>> sponsor introduces the sponcee with the birthday, they come up, they
>>> hug,
>>> they get their chip and they talk about their experiences before during
>>> and
>>> after getting sober. So here's my question...
>>>
>>> My wife has played the biggest part in my recovery. Although my sponsor
>>> has
>>> certainly played a part as well. Without her help, I'm confident that I
>>> would not have gotten or stayed sober. In fact, I'm confident that we
>>> would
>>> be divorcing right now or divorced by now if it wasn't for her help in
>>> my
>>> recovery. But my sponsor has also been there for my phone calls and has
>>> certainly helped me in those times that I needed to talk to another
>>> alcoholic. He also did my 5th step with me. It's also more customary
>>> that
>>> sponsors introduce the person with the birthday on birthday night, but
>>> spouse have been asked to do it to.
>>>
>>> I'm afraid that if I ask my wife to do it, that she'll do it and break
>>> down
>>> and cry during the intro. I'm not even sure if she would want to do it
>>> because she doesn't like speaking in public very much. Most all the
>>> AA'ers
>>> in my home group know her, at least in the sense that they know she's my
>>> wife. But there are a few people who know us both very well through the
>>> program.
>>>
>>> I'm tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro for me. But the fact is,
>>> that
>>> although I have called him several times in the past for help and just
>>> to be
>>> there, I don't feel very close to him. Yes, we're definitely friends.
>>> But
>>> it's my fault that I haven't called him a whole lot over the past year
>>> and
>>> we've only had one meal together during that year - which is when he
>>> first
>>> came to my house and we talked about doing the 12 steps.
>>>
>>> I'm also tempted to ask my sponsor to do the intro because it's really
>>> an AA
>>> meeting for alcoholics. And the intro should be done by an alcoholic.
>>> But
>>> at the same time, my wife deserves so much credit and recognition for
>>> what
>>> she's been through with me. And I know that she would be proud in doing
>>> the
>>> intro for me.
>>>
>>> So I don't know what to do. Do I ask my wife to do it and not my
>>> sponsor?
>>> Because I feel like she's had a much bigger role in my sobriety, but yet
>>> she's not my sponsor and she might be uncomfortable in doing an intro
>>> for
>>> 100+ people? Or do I ask my sponsor to do it and possibly hurt my
>>> wife's
>>> feelings?
>>>
>>> Inquiring minds want to know..
>>
>> i'd forego the drama and claim it myself...
>>
>> and call me superstitious but i don't make plans about my sobriety beyond
>> today.
>>
>> congrats.
>>
>> -steve
>
> Yo, Steve, has this happened to you? I was talking with my brother
> about sobriety dates and we think that it's like anniversaries in general
> or kids' birthdays -- we each can easily remember the month and the day
> but sometimes we have to stop and count back to figure out the year.
> I personally agree about coins and dates for my own purposes. I do
> better when I just stay centered on "now," but many people do need the
> validation of ceremonies. Look at how important they are to marriages,
> military morale and religion. It seems to be a human need.


I ought to add that having to count back to the year is especially
embarassing for me because I'll only have in 3 years if I make it to May 24.
Maybe that ol' alcohol fog is still dissipating. <grin>