The Most Important Person In The Room
Monday, 15 December 2008 16:41
When the conference was getting closer, a bunch of women in my womens group, suggested that we go together to the Omni on the Friday eve of the conference to hear the guest speaker. I was thrilled because I didn't want to go by myself. We went to hear the speaker from New Jersey and he was so awesome. I felt at times, he was speaking just to me even though there were hundreds of people from all over, in the ballroom. I was in awe!
While I was there, some of the people running the conference made a point of coming up to me and welcoming me with open arms asking if I could help out in the hospitality room the next morning and stay for all of the speakers throughout the day. Wow, I was feeling a part of immediately! I DID go back the next morning with bagels and cream cheese in hand, and went to the hospitality room, where I was greeted once again, with open arms. I didn't really know where I was going the rest of the day, but somehow I found speaker meetings in small rooms and again, felt so a part of something that was bigger than me.
It is hard to explain. I didn't feel out of place at all. That Sat eve, my older son decided to come and see what this AA conference was all about. Again, WOW, my 18 y/o wanting to spend a Sat eve with his mother, who is an alcoholic, and at an AA conference. When we arrived in the grand ballroom, my new AA friends greeted me and couldn't wait to meet my son. My son and I sat and listened to Sandy B. once again, in AWE. We(my son and I) actually stayed for the dance and talked about Sandy's s story all the way home!!I will never forget that night! It was magical for me! I went back on Sunday a.m. for I just wanted more of what all those people had-peace, serenity and most of all feeling a part of, happiness, and laughter. I remembered deciding right then and there, I will volunteer on this amazing conference next year. I wanted to give back to the conference, what the conference did for me.
It is now "next year" and I am on the committee of this year's spring conference as well as the speaker liaison for the fabulous speakers that are coming this year. I am so blessed that my son still remember's that night last year, and not only is he proud of his mom's 1 year sobriety, but he wants to be a part of this year's conference with me. The New Haven Spring Conference brought me comfort last year when I was new to AA, and this year it is bringing me happiness, laughter, peace and joy and we are not even there yet. I am so blessed to have AA in my life and wonderful events like the NHSC to help keep me sober. Hope to see you all there.
