Taking the Wisdom of the Old Timers for the Newcomers – David

About This Speaker Tape

Old Timers - 2019

A childhood spent standing outside South London pubs watching the 'magical' twinkling lights and the happy faces within set the stage for David D.'s lifelong chase. He spent nineteen years pursuing the 'Superman' feeling of his first four pints of bitter a pursuit that eventually led him to trick his wife into signing a second mortgage to cover his debts. After years of attending meetings while still drinking David D. found a turning point in a blunt conversation with a man named Peter in London who asked him a series of 'no' questions about sponsorship and the steps. Now a long-term sober member David D. carries his AA chip as a constant reminder that 'drunk David' is still with him and he finds peace in the service of telephone duty helping others who have reached the end of their tether.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 David D. opens by reflecting on the tragedy of those who don't make it in recovery.
• 2:45 Laughter: David D. tells the story of buying 16 cans of beer for his father-in-law.
• 5:10 David D. reads from a 1940 AA preamble, noting the current version is 'sanitised'.
• 7:30 Description of the 'magical' allure of the pub as a child in South London.
• 11:15 David D. admits to tricking his wife into signing a second mortgage to pay debts.
• 15:40 David D. describes his first meeting and the feeling of desperation.
• 18:20 The encounter with Peter in London and the 'no' questions regarding the 12 Steps.
• 22:10 Discussion on the importance of service and telephone duty.
• 26:45 A story about Melvin and the value of being seen and heard without judgment.
• 31:10 David D. reflects on the moment he knew he had changed while at the hospital with his daughter.
• 35:20 Applause: Peter and another speaker share their experiences with the Big Book and early sobriety.
• 42:10 Closing: The group joins in the Serenity Prayer.