At age 82, Boots had lived most of his life as a moderate or normal drinker, only to find out in his late 50s that his drinking was getting out of control. By the time his family staged an intervention when he was 60, Boots had become a full-blown alcoholic with all of the collateral damage that drinking inflicts upon the unsuspecting. Boots spent four months at an inpatient treatment center face-to-face with his disease and quickly developed an earnest desire to get sober. Fortunately, the precepts of AA were woven into the treatment protocol of the recovery center, so Boots did not have to rely solely upon intellectual constructs to stay sober. AA meetings inside plus rapid exposure to the Program after he got out of treatment allowed for a seamless transition into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. Boots came all the way in and sat all the way down, found a good sponsor, and worked the 12 Steps. Over the 22 years Boots has stayed sober, he has faced and surmounted many serious challenges, including cancer. But he has maintained a staunch belief that God’s will is at work in his life. During that same period of time, he has experienced many of the joys of sobriety, including his own son’s nine years in AA. Boots has staked his ground in the middle of the AA herd and delights in going to regular meetings and sponsoring men in the Program.

Boots’ story is a fascinating perspective into what it’s like to live most of one’s life without the scourge of alcoholism. But it’s also cautionary tale of just how patient the disease can be and how it can be the wrecker of lives regardless of age. So please enjoy the next hour of AA Recovery Interviews with my close friend and AA brother, Boots G.

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.

[Disclaimer: AA Recovery Interviews podcast strictly adheres to AA’s 12 Traditions and all General Service Office guidelines for safe-guarding anonymity on-line. I pay all podcast production costs. AA Recovery Interviews and my guests do not speak for or represent AA at-large. This podcast is simply my way of giving back to AA that which has been so freely given to me. – Howard L.]