The Curse of Die, Go Insane, or Go to Jail – Danny T.

About This Speaker Tape

SCAAC - 2006

A life spent in the revolving door of California penitentiaries ends when Danny T. stops trying to outrun the headlights of the bus. He recounts the 'voodoo' of the AA curse—die go insane or go to jail—and how he finally accepted the terms of surrender in 1968. From writing his inventory on the back of a gas bill to the surreal transition from a 'prison buff' with sharp pleats to a movie extra on the set of Runaway Train Danny maps the shift from a man who looked like a maniac to a father who chauffeurs his children to meetings. He emphasizes that every good thing in his life including his acting career came from the simple gritty act of helping others without expecting a reward transforming a history of robberies and riots into a legacy of sobriety and family reconciliation.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Danny T. discusses the importance of the greeter at the meeting door.
• 2:15 Laughter: Danny T. mocks the idea of 'slips' and describes his long stints in prison.
• 4:30 Danny T. describes his first encounter with his sponsor, Johnny H., and the 'headlights on the bus' metaphor.
• 6:10 The 'voodoo' of AA: The warning about dying, going insane, or going to jail.
• 9:45 Danny T. recounts the riot at Soledad and his time in 'the hole'.
• 13:20 Danny T. describes the cold reception from his father upon returning home.
• 16:50 Danny T. discusses his early inventory and the 'ninja stuff' of burning it in the smoke.
• 20:15 Danny T. shares the story of the 'Coco Brown Chevy' and the temptation of the streets.
• 24:30 Danny T. describes his first acting job on the set of Runaway Train.
• 28:10 Danny T. talks about his children's sobriety and the power of the program for families.
• 31:00 Danny T. emphasizes the necessity of attending many meetings for newcomers.