Solis R's SoberTexas Podcast

We love Wayne "Pearl" B. We have been friends for over a decade and he's one of those people who has demonstrated for us over that time how to be of service to others, how to have an open heart and an open home. He's since left the Austin Fellowship, but we're glad he came back from College Station/Bryan for an evening to spend it with us.

Garrett came to Lambda Live and Let Live in Austin to share his story. What a story! We hope you enjoy it too.

One from a while ago at the home group. The best place in the world. :)

Loretta is of service to the fellowship in many ways big and small. She helps a lot of people and we're all grateful for her.

Charity I've known for a long time. I met her in 2005 immediately following Katrina in New Orleans. I traveled to Houston because I needed a meeting and New Orleans suddenly had none. We had coffee and chatted and I knew I was home, even if home was technically Sacramento, California. She's the best.

Marvin, who i lovingly refer to as Marilyn and he knows why, is a great guy who has helped the fellowship in many ways. He's a great example to me and certainly someone you want to have in the meeting if it gets out of hand or sh!t goes down. He will definitely have your back!

Celso Z is nothing short of amazing. His service to the fellowship in San Antonio is so helpful to many. I've known him 12 years and I'm so glad we've been able to be friends through his sobriety.

What a full circle opportunity. Is spoke at Toronto Gratitude in 1987 and now back, 32 years later in Toronto in 2019. My heart was so full this weekend because we were with folks we've known for years and years in recovery and it was also Rob's and my 30th anniversary together weekend.

Garrett S. is a great guy and fellow Alcoholic. We met in Oklahoma City even though we're both from Texas. He's been a delight everytime we've gotten an opportunity spend time together. He's in service to Fellowship in the Pines in Smithville Texas and I had the opportunity to go out and spend the weekend with those folks, which was a blast! Love Garrett, and he has an incredible story. I suspect you'll love Garrett too!

Thank you Garrett S. and the fellowship in Smithville Texas for inviting me to come out and spend the weekend with you. We had a great time and what a fantastic event y'all have for many years now.

Grayson came to the group a year ago. We were so happy this evening after Grayson reached a year and we were able to spend some time to learn more about recovery. Thank you Grayson, you're a great addition to our fellowship.

A share with an evening in San Antonio, 2018

A share with an evening in San Antonio, 2018

Brandon is a darling alcoholic who is always the friendly face ready to welcome people who come to his home group. He has always been that person for me. Thank you Brandon for coming north of the lake and sharing your story with us.

Paul R. is one of the bright spots in AA. A young person I met in 2014 and knew right away he was very special. Once in a while you come across an alcoholic who you can see from across the room is on fire. They are walking around, talking to everyone. Smiling. Laughing. And, you think immediately, I have to meet that one. I had the best feeling about Paul right away. Once I introduced myself, he said he'd heard from someone that he should look to meet me too, because we both were similar. Extroverted. All around happy and of course, both in love with sobriety. This recording came from an invitation I extended to him once he had his 1 year. This was recorded in December 2015. Paul flew from Odessa to Austin just to speak at our Saturday night meeting. Another indication that someone is a great kind of alcoholic. Paul didn't think it was too far, or too much to ask, he just enthusiastically said "yes". On that trip we went to a coffee shop and it was raining out. We couldn't get a parking spot close to the door and we thought we'd sit and chat and hope that the rain would die down so we wouldn't get drenched trying to reach the front door. We ended up speaking for hours in the car talking and watching the rain - watching the rain stop. We never tired of sharing with one another. He was so enthusastic and had so many questions. About identifying a career path - about dating, how did I know I was in love, when would he know he'd found the one? He had quesitons about school, sobriety, and life. Everything. And, he couldn't have exhausted me if he tried. We never did make it into the coffee shop. Paul was killed, suddenly and tragically this last weekend. Our last conversation was a couple of months ago. He apologized over and over for getting "busy". Wrapped up in the job, the girlfriend, life. I never held that against him of course. What good is having a sober life, if we don't live it? He promised he'd visit me this summer and we'd drive with the top down (he loved my Saab convertible, his favorite - regrettably, I don't have that car anymore but promised him the new one was just as much fun). I'm still in shock at his sudden departure from my life, from the fellowship and the confines of this earth. He will always hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of others in the fellowship. He simply was one of a kind. I adored him and so would have you.