Marci's first exposure to Alcoholics Anonymous was at age 12 when she witnessed her father receiving his one year anniversary chip. But though her father maintained his sobriety until the end of his life through AA, little was spoken of alcoholism in her home growing up. Like many AA members who were raised in or around the Program, Marci’s decisions to drink were largely unaffected by her family of origin. By the time she started drinking in high school and increased her alcohol consumption in college, Marci enjoyed the pleasant aspects of drinking, though she often blacked out and was once hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. With few consequences along the way, she embarked on a career chockful of travel and drinking. Married at 26, the issue of her excessive boozing was raised and allayed many times as her functional alcoholism provided plenty of excuses for continuing to drink. By her early 40s, the fraying fabric of Marci’s life was being torn apart by her drinking. Countless vain attempts to stop were fueled by her desire to please others, but her own desire to quit drinking did not occur until after she’d lost her job and marriage. Thoroughly beaten by the disease, Marci’s desperation turned into a willingness to do whatever she was told to stay sober. For the first time, she became accountable to her sponsor who methodically worked her through the 12 Steps. Combined with studying the Big Book, praying daily, and being of service to her AA fellows, Marci’s efforts to embrace AA for herself finally paid off with a sobriety date that hasn’t changed since May of 2021.

Marci’s willingness to share her story has been a gift to me and I’m pleased to share it with you. It’s a story with sufficient similarities to be of value to AA novices and old-timers alike, yet enough differences to assure even the most skeptical listeners that Alcoholics Anonymous really works for those who do it. for those who do it..is effective beyond any shadow of a doubt.

So please enjoy the next 60 minutes AA Recovery Interviews with my friend and AA sister, Marci P.  

If you’ve enjoyed my AA Recovery Interviews series and my Big Book Podcast, have a listen to Lost Stories of the Big Book, 30 Original Stories Missing from the 3rd and 4th Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s an engaging audiobook I narrated to bring these stories to life for AA members who’ve never seen them. These timeless testimonials were originally cut to make room for newer stories in the 3rd and 4th Editions. But their vitally important messages of hope are as meaningful today as when they were first published. Many listeners will hear these stories for the first time. Lost Stories of the Big Book is available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. It’s also available as a Kindle book and in Paperback from Amazon if you’d like to read along with the audio.

I also invite you to check out my latest audio book, “Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism”. This is the word-for-word, cover-to-cover reading of the First Edition of the Big Book, published in 1939. It’s a comfortable, meaningful, and engaging way to listen to the Big Book anytime, anyplace. Have a free listen at Audible, i-Tunes, or Amazon.