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Re: AA San Diego 1995 - 25 years ago TODAY
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýEarle (with an e) Marsh was my sponsor for 19 years when he died on January 13, 2003.? I still miss him every day. ? DAVID G. SMITH : ATTORNEY AT LAW LAW OFFICES OF DAVID G. SMITH ?? PRACTICE LIMITED TO PERSONAL INJURY SINCE 1978 ? 2201 BROADWAY SUITE PH 1: OAKLAND CA 94612-3063 T. 510.893.3741 : F. 510.893.2701 E. Dave@... : W. DaveSmithLaw.com ? ?? ?? ?????? ? ? ? From: [email protected] On Behalf Of Bob S
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2020 1:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] AA San Diego 1995 - 25 years ago TODAY ? Thank you Steve for sharing your exciting experiences at the 1995 International Convention at San Diego. ??Six of us flew out from the Richmond, Indiana, area and by the luck-of-the-draw I landed on the 15th floor of the Marriott Hotel that was actually connected to the Convention Center! Better yet , the balcony overlooked the bay with yachts to view directly below. ?The rest of the Richmond crew also settled in nice rooms in the same hotel. ? I was the first to arrive in my large room with two King-sized rooms all to myself¡ªI was indeed living like King Farouk! However, the next night ??here came the many others from Los Angeles (Where had I lived for years) to share the room with me. This not only filled not only both beds but much of the floor! That was okay, but most of them snored so loudly that King Farouk found it necessary to sleep out on the balcony the rest of the stay.? Thank you, God¡ªbig joke! Ha. ? One of the highlights was to shake hands with Nell Wing (Bill¡¯s long time Secretary) with whom I had previously corresponded. Also, met Earl Marsh, MD (Physician Heal Thyself), and of course it is always a delight to hear Clancy speak¡ªthis time it was the Traditions. I also posed with a big Big Book (attached) ? Also, I was introduced to a lady from Washington DC who was also a BB thumper; this opened the door for many invitations to speak at DC, Delaware and Baltimore over these last 25 years. ? Great times! Thanks for the reminder. ? Bob S * ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steve Flower ? Hello Thom, and thanks for the flashback!? San Diego was my first ever International, and my first "AA vacation." I'd been to several AA roundups near my home-at-the-time in Kansas City, but this would be a whole new experience.? I remember landing at the SD airport, and seeing banners all over the terminal with the International logo - nothing identifying it as AA, of course - and my surprise when there were people standing in Conference t-shirts shouting out "WELCOME TO **SAN DIEGO!"? It was the same feeling I'd had the year before, arriving at Dr. Bob's house, and seeing 12 members on each of the 12 steps shaking hands and saying, "Welcome home..." It brought me to tears. ? There are hundreds of memories I could share - but the first of two that stood out was seeing one of the book sellers who had closed up for a break, coming back to find a whole bunch of his inventory gone - seems the convention goers had just helped themselves.? He was racing around his little stand, looking for stuff, when we stopped and asked if he needed help and if he was OK, he said, "I thought I'd been robbed - but I found a book bag - stuffed with cash!" From what he could tell, the cash was considerably more, it seemed, than the stock he was missing.? I remember him smiling, holding this bag of cash, and saying, "I wouldn't have believed it, but I think I'm ok..." ? The second, and more enduring one, was walking from what was the Pan-Pacific Hotel a short ways to the Convention Center.? There were trolley tracks that were being guarded by police (lest any of us step out and get run over), so we were waiting for the trolley to pass.? I spoke to the poor policeman, who was in black shorts, black short-sleeve uniform shorts, and black sneakers, in the bright San Diego sun,? and it was clear he was tired and HOT.? I said to him, "You and your city have been so gracious to us, and we're thankful for that - but I'll bet you're ready for us to get the hell out of your town, aren't you?"? He lit up in a nearly-ear-splitting grin, laughed, and said, "HELL no, sir!? You guys go home, get some more money, and you all come right back here!? As convention people go, you folks have been better than the Republicans, better than the Democrats, better than the Baptists or Catholics or even the American Library Association!! We LOVE having you people here!? Can you imagine what it's like for POLICE to have 80,000 people in and out of Jack Murphy Stadium, three times, and no drunk driving accidents?!?? No sir, in my book, you people are welcome ANYTIME!"? We all had a good laugh, the gates went up, he waved us on in blessing and farewell, and we went on to the convention center.? ? THAT - seeing the impact that more than 55,000 AAs, and 24,000 Alanons, Alateens and their families, had on one policeman, spoke volumes about the collective recovery in the 12-step programs on that city.? It made me proud to be a sober member of AA, in a whole new and powerful way. ? Steve F, Springfield, MO 12-12-90 ? On Mon, Jun 29, 2020 at 5:07 AM Thom R. <thombone@...> wrote:
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