My First AA Meeting

Now that I've had a couple of days to calm down and come out of my self inflicted, shame malaise, I decided I should probably go to my first AA Meeting and see what the deal is. I've always made fun of people that have decided to go sober and doubly goofed on them if they went to AA.

I did a Google Search and found one in my neighborhood at a cafe starting at 10am. I sacked up and went by myself. I had no idea what to expect but I was definitely happy that it wasn't in some stereotypical church basement. I arrived about 15 mins early and parked at a meter out front. One hour only.

I walked in and the cast of characters were about what I expected. A Stellan Skarsgard stunt double, a girl that looked like Eva Longoria's cracked out older sister and an assortment of bass players from 80s hair metal bands. I don't even drink coffee but it seemed like the thing to do. I poured one and sat down.

A portly Mexican looking fella started the meeting reading off some rules and asking if anybody was new. I must have infiltrated a tightly knit group because every eye descended on me. I kept quiet. Eventually people started sharing their stories and they seemed way more fucked up than mine. I'm just the guy that gets destroyed drunk, I'm not Kitty Dukakis raiding the medicine cabinet for rubbing alcohol. What the fuck? You did what? Holy shit! It got time for me to speak and I saw the clock. Meter's about to run out!!! I stepped outside to pay the meter and never returned.

It felt a little bit like the Jerry Springer Show. I didn't belong but I felt strangely better about my life after watching it. I did however get the nerve to call my one sober friend. A guy I've tormented for the past 2 years since he's been booze free. I told him I think I have a drinking problem. He said 'I've been expecting this call from you.'

We've made a plan to try my 2nd AA meeting. Stay tuned.