# 9 years sober
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 22, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611 "2013-03-22T04:09:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 16
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/1 "2013-03-22T04:09:12Z")
So yesterday was my 9 year anniverasy. I have not had a drink in 9 years.
I usually post on the anniversary. This year has been a little rough and I missed it. My Mom recently fell down and went boom. This led to brain surgery. She is fine but it was stressful. There has been a lot of other stuff in the last couple months that has had me totally stressed.
Yesterday I ended up arranging for a lawyer for a close relative of my finacee. He got a DUI. So I talked to him about A.A. and how to get, and stay, sober.
But, even with all the stress I haven’t wanted to drink. It is a bit amazing, really. For years my answer to all of the problems life threw at me was a drink.
Now I deal with the problems and think about the good stuff. I am getting married in May to the most beautiful woman in the world. I have a pretty good job and should have a better one by the end of the year. I have a home and it is filled with aniimals (4 dogs and 4 cats, just adopted the 4th cat) and love. I have all that I need and most of what i want when it comes to material stuff.
I have great relationships with my family. I have friends that _aren’t_ active drunks or druggies.
I wake up in the morning and remember what I did the night before.
I no longer have to hide anything in my life. I no longer hide from my family. I no longer hate my life or myself.
My worst day sober is better than my best day drunk.
And I know enough to help people who are like me.
I am lucky. I made it through alive. I have known many who didn’t. I made it through without going to prison. I know many who didn’t. I didn’t kill or hurt anyone (physically) during my dark days. I know many who did.
So, to celibrate, I am going to take my puppies and my kittens up stairs. We will get into bed with my wonderful lady. We will watch a bit of t.v. and I will read a bit. I will kiss my wonderful girl and thank her for being in my life. And I will fall asleep clean and sober.
Slee
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/2 "2013-03-22T04:38:58Z")
Congratulations, **sleestak**! Sounds like you picked a wonderful way to celebrate.
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### Author:  [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/3 "2013-03-22T04:56:27Z")
Yea! Very good.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/4 "2013-03-22T05:25:17Z")
Congrats, **sleestak**. Stay strong.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/5 "2013-03-22T13:11:26Z")
Congrats.
May you never return to that land of pitiable and incomprehensible demoralization.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/6 "2013-03-22T13:17:54Z")
Congratulations. I am 15 years sober, and I survived my wife’s death without drinking.
> [@sleestak](#):
>
> My worst day sober is better than my best day drunk.
This has not been my experience. Sometimes sobriety is hard, real hard. But that does not mean it is not worth the work.
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### Author:  [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/7 "2013-03-22T13:37:59Z")
Congratulations! That’s something to be proud of.
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### Author:  [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/8 "2013-03-22T13:44:18Z")
> [@sleestak](#):
>
> So, to celibrate…
Wow, you’re definately up for big challenges!
Congrats, **slee**. This is something to be proud of and it’s great to see you embracing its merits.
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/9 "2013-03-22T13:48:52Z")
Congrats, man. I think I hit 9 years sometime next month. It’s a long time, isn’t it?
There are times I really miss it, and think I would like to, but it isn’t as tho there is any chance some event or something will send me over the edge. If I ever drink again, it will be the result of a conscious choice.
I was surprised the other day. We were having folk over, and we needed some beer. I offered to run to the store and my wife said something along the lines that she would do it herself because she felt bad having me go buy alcohol. Something I never even thought of. In my mind, it was just running a necessary errand. There’s no resentment or temptation or anything. If I want a drink, I know I would have no problem finding one.
But enough about me. Congrats friend, and best wishes for 90 more!
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### Author:  [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/10 "2013-03-22T15:01:53Z")
Congratulations, that’s great!
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### Author:  [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/11 "2013-03-22T16:37:10Z")
Your reaping the rewards, **Sleestak.** And they are well deserved. Nobody gets sober and stays sober for nine years without some hard work on their part.
I’m also thinking about how many people you are gifting with your sobriety. Not to mention the puppiesd and kitties!
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### Author:  [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/12 "2013-03-22T17:14:12Z")
Happy Birthday, **sleestak**. Coming up on 4 years here.
Amen to all the blessings you listed.
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### Author:  [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/13 "2013-03-22T17:38:32Z")
Your post made me all smiley!
Wishing you continued happiness.
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### Author:  [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/14 "2013-03-22T17:55:21Z")
Happy birthday **Sleestak**. Sorry to hear about your stresses, but glad you are dealing OK with it.
My phone rang night before last, wife of a fellow who had fallen off the wagon (2nd time) into a quart of vodka. He was a total mess of course, but I was able to calm him down over the phone enough to lie down and sleep it off. Then had Kevbabe the Alanon chat with his wife for a while. Sober, this guy is the most polite, mild mannered fellow you can imagine, but add alcohol and…not so much.
I’ll see him tonight. I’m too green to be his sponsor, but will be getting after him to pick one already.
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### Author:  [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/15 "2013-03-22T18:22:50Z")
Wat to go **Sleestak** … I find that critters are good for a lot of folks like us. It is a good way to live. Working on my twenty second anniversary & I still need to hear stories like yours.
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### Author:  [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/9-years-sober/653611/16 "2013-03-23T01:11:52Z")
congratulations to you!!