I own it, I did that, not proud that was me, and when I face it, take that a little dignity, not looking for excuses, I just want to be free from power

weakness head on sea

Free, free, free, free, free, free.

Hi everyone, and welcome to the bubble hour where real people tell real stories of addiction and recovery.

I'm your host, Gene McCarthy, and I write the blog Unpickled, where I have been chronicling my life after alcohol since my first day of sobriety eight years ago. I tell my story there and I

invite you to share your stories here. And as you've noticed, I've been away a little bit this month.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to the Grand Canyon. That was amazing. And then more recently,

I traveled with my mom and my two sisters, and we went on a river

cruise.

And this is the second time we've done this.

And that was also absolutely incredible.

And let me tell you, if sobriety ever serves you well, it is when you are traveling with your

family of origin in another country.

We all got along very well, but I must say that there's lots of times where I thought,

ooh, good thing I'm not drinking or I might not behave myself. Furthermore, I want to share

it with you listeners that I am on baby watch right now.

My third grandchild is due to be born any day here.

The due date is in a couple of days, but the doctors are saying it could be any time.

And I have a little bag packed beside my bed in case I get a call in the night that I need to run up the street

and stay with my grandchildren while their mom and dad go to the hospital to bring home the new baby.

And again, I'm grateful for my sobriety every time I go to bed and know that if I get a call at 3 a.m.,

I will not only be alert enough to answer it, but I will be sober and just in fine shape to run up

...