The Periodic Alcoholic and the Obsession With Drinking – Audrey P.

About This Speaker Tape

Audrey P. maps out a life defined by the 'periodic' nature of her drinking—the kind where money didn't matter and the only thing that mattered was the next drink. She recounts a chaotic entry into the program in the 1960s arriving at a meeting bleeding and cut after smashing seven mirrors in a bar.

Audrey P. dismantles the illusion of the 'saintly' recoveree admitting to a period of spiritual arrogance where she played the 'Mother Superior' before a blunt sponsor Clarence S. brought her back to earth.

She traces her journey through the wreckage of blackout drinking auditory hallucinations and a recurring cycle of drunk driving arrests eventually finding a road map in the Big Book and the daily discipline of the 10th 11th and 12th Steps to keep the obsession at bay.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:45 Audrey P. reflects on the reality of growing old and the 'alternative' to aging.
• 2:15 Discussion of being a 'periodic alcoholic' and the 44-question inventory.
• 4:10 The story of smashing seven mirrors in a bar and her first contact with the program.
• 8:20 Audrey P. describes pooling resources with Donnie to afford an apartment and the lessons of tolerance.
• 11:40 Laughter: Audrey P. describes the 'wet grumps' and cleaning houses for other alcoholics while the old-timers spouted philosophy.
• 16:10 Audrey P. discusses the influence of Clarence S. and the nature of alcoholism.
• 21:30 The 'ego buster': Clarence S. tells Audrey P. it takes one phony to know a phony.
• 25:10 Audrey P. describes the physical wreckage of her drinking: 87 pounds, uncombed hair, and a striped dress.
• 28:40 Mention of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Steps and the danger of not doing the full recovery process.
• 32:10 Audrey P.'s experiences with drunk driving arrests and her arguments with the police.
• 36:50 Discussion of the 'magic circle' and the danger of picking up a drink after knowing better.