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As the daughter of a Louisiana bar-owner, Teska’s father would spike her Coca Cola with whiskey when she was a child. But, though her family was rife with alcoholism within a culture where drinking was a way of life, Teska lived most of her life as a normal or social drinker. It wasn’t until she retired, after a long and successful career as a lawyer, that alcoholism bit into her life with ferocity.
Teska’s self-admitted workaholism kept her use of alcohol and occasional binges confined to weekends throughout her legal career. But after she retired in her fifties, alcoholism took over with vengence where her work addictions left off. Like the man in the Big Book who retired to his carpet slippers, bathrobe, and irrepressible drinking, Teska headed down the same road to ruin. But unlike the man in the story, she didn’t have to die to stop drinking. Instead, she came to AA.
Sober in AA for nearly 5 years now, Teska’s journey in sobriety is a tale worth hearing. Finding AA in her early 60’s, centering herself in the Program, and working the 12 Steps has enriched her quality of life. She clearly embodies what a woman transformed by Alcoholics Anonymous can be, irrespective of age. Her hopefulness for a happy and service-oriented future as a member of AA comes through loud and clear.
On this episode of AA Recovery Interviews, I’m delighted to welcome my AA sister, Teska M. to the show.
Visit the AA Recovery Interviews website for more information and to contact me, Howard L.
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Check out Howard’s Big Book Podcast, the complete unabridged audio version of the First and Second Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Big Book Podcast is an engaging cover-to-cover, word-for-word reading of all 11 chapters and Personal Stories, many of which were left out of the Third and Fourth Editions. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Or listen on https://bigbookpodcast.com
[Disclaimer: In strict adherence to A.A.’s traditions, my anonymous guests and I speak for ourselves only, not for Alcoholics Anonymous at large. We share only our personal experiences with A.A. recovery. We acknowledge that AA’s sole concern is the recovery and continued sobriety of those alcoholics who turn to the Fellowship for help. As members of AA, our primary purpose is to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. – Howard L.]