Lorna K speaking at the Music City Roundup

SPEAKER_1 (0:06)

Hello, and welcome to Sober Cast, where we provide AASpeak meetings and workshops in podcast format. We're an ad-free podcast, and if you enjoy listening, please help us be self-supporting by visiting sobercast.com, look for the donate link, and drop a dollar or two into our virtual basket. We hope you enjoy the podcast. Have a great day.

Charlotte Rogers (0:27)

All of their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership. We're self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any... Hey, you guys asked for it. You want...

It was not like one of those bars I used to hang out in. It was a nice bar, right? So he walks up to the maitre d and the maitre d says, you can't get in this bar without a tie-on. And the guy goes, the guy needs a drink bath. He goes, I don't have a tie-on. Come on, you let me in. He goes, I'm afraid you have to have a tie-on. So the guy goes, I think I got one in my car. So he runs out to his car and he doesn't have one there. But he looks down and there's some jumper cables, right? He's a quick thinking guy. He puts on those jumper cables, ties a nice Windsor knot.

He walks back in and goes, come on. Guy has to give him an A for effort. So he goes, come on in. But don't go starting anything.

That was my tribute to you, John.

Did you guys go to karaoke last night? Yeah. I'm afraid that I missed that. I went home and saw my wife, my wife Kathy. She's a good Al-Anon. She's a very, I love her dearly. We were sitting there talking, and I said, you know, Kath, I love you so much. I really appreciate you putting up with me for all those years and all the years since. You know, but if I was still out there, if I was still out there drinking, would you still love me? She said, yeah, I would. I'd still love you. I'd miss you, but I still love you.

Bob Hart (2:18)

I'm an alcoholic, and my name is Bob Hart. Well, it's great to feel this energy. I'm going to ask Ken B and Charlotte R to read the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions.

My name is Ken.

Charlotte Rogers (2:33)

I'm an alcoholic.

Bob Hart (2:35)

12 Steps.

Charlotte Rogers (2:36)

Hi, everybody. I'm Charlotte Rogers, and I'm an alcoholic.

Bob Hart (2:39)

And thank you, Ken and Charlotte.

Well, I've got to tell you that a short period of time ago, when I called this New Yorker, expecting a good New York rogue, and I get this British accent, I was real shocked. I do want to clarify that in your bulletin, it says Lorna C is actually a K. So, for your information, just be aware of that. I don't know much. I'm anxious to hear. I know enough about Lorna to know that she loves this AA program, and I'm anxious to hear her story. So, Lorna.

Lorna K (3:25)

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Lorna, and I'm an alcoholic.

I remember, you know, going to my very, very first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous long before I knew that I belonged here, and I heard this chap get up, and he said, My name is Joe, and I'm an alcoholic. And I remember thinking to myself, Well, we don't all want to know. But keep some things for yourself, you know?

Does your mother know?

Anyway, I'm delighted to be here. This is my very, very first visit to Tennessee, and you certainly speak very differently.

I'm thrilled to be here, and this morning, Kin took me all over Nashville to try and find a western shirt. I really want one of those western shirts with those pockets here and the three buttons here and all that. And apparently, I'm about 20 years too late. But that's the story of my life.

I, you know, several, earlier this year, first of all, I want to kick off by thanking Don for selecting me to speak here. I'm certainly not very worthy. I was kind of surprised when I got chosen. There are so many phenomenal speakers in Alcoholics Anonymous. And, you know, whenever I used to first qualify, I used to think to myself, well, you know, I hope I can say something that will help them. And I used to end the talk with saying, you know, I hope I've said something that will be useful to you. And now I realize that I'm up here because the group has given me the opportunity to be helped by having myself reflected. And thank you so much for the privilege to be a speaker here.