"We'd like to welcome everyone, and especially the newcomers. Our speaker today is Ron W."

"Thanks. My story is perhaps a little different from many of yours. I was in a convent for 32 years. No, seriously, I was a Xavierian brother until I was 32, then I quit being a monk to become a leatherman. You know, I drank a lot over my internal struggle between my sexuality and the Church. I came from a rather poor New England background with Lithuanian parents. My dad was a typical cold alcoholic, my mom a co. So of course I'm a little of both. Well, a lot actually. I've spent most of my life since the brotherhood breaking out of my inner bondage. Guess that's why I'd rather tie you up now.

"You know, we all like to joke around and have a lot of fun in sobriety. That's good. For me at least, my drinking stopped working a long time ago. I tried for years to get back that feeling I got when I first got drunk. You know the way it used to be when it was fun. It wasn't fun for a long time. But now, we can all learn to enjoy ourselves again, without alcohol.

"I can only speak for myself, but I think it's good not to take myself too seriously. I could spend all my time saying, 'Poor me, poor me, pour me another drink.' And where would that get me? I've had some rough times, especially lately, since my lover Joe died...

"I have been so privileged in my life to have known such a beautiful man. He taught me so much about life and sobriety. He never thought of himself. I truly learned what love was about through Joe and what real inner strength and peace were during his last days. He died in my arms...

"I got to be there when this beautiful soul left this dimension. And I got to see and feel and be love for the short time we had together, and to experience all those things sober. I am so grateful to be alive and to have my sobriety and the people in my life who have touched me.

"I'm just starting to come out of my shell and get back into meetings. I need to make contact with new people, make new friends and carry on. It's what Joe would have wanted for me. Thank you all for being here. And thanks for listening."

Thunderous applause and teary eyes filled the room. This was always a good meeting. It seemed like people really opened up and told the truth in their shares there. Maybe it was the way the light came in the windows. Maybe it was sitting with the chairs in a big circle, looking at each other.

You could always tell that it made some people uncomfortable. It was so raw, and exposed. I liked that. It was cathartic and real. When people told their stories, I tried to find the similarities that I could relate to, and not focus on the differences.

Ron seemed like an interesting person. Perhaps a kindred spirit. And he was kinda cute, too.