I began driving a cab for Pug M. who also had problems with alcohol although I was not aware of this until later. I tried as hard as I was able to be at work every day and to care for the money that I made but I continued to get drunk periodically and mess up whatever I had accomplished while I was not drinking.

During this time Pug suggested that I attend A.A. meetings with Lester Jr. who was going to Nashville twice a week or more to attend meetings at 407 and one half Union Street, I went but I did not or could not listen, you see, I was not an alcoholic and if the world would treat me right I would be OK.

During this time Chaplin Malone at the V.A. Hospital wrote a series of articles for the Daily News Journal and as result of these articles the Chaplin and Lester Jr. got togethr and instigated A.A. meetings in Murfreesboro. They called and invited me and others to attend, Pug asked me to attend in very strong language. The first meeting that I attended was held at the old Health Unit building about one block from Crichlow Grammar School and just down the street from the telephone office, Maple Street I believe. This was during 1957 to the best of this practicing alcoholics mind.

This first meeting was attended by Lester Jr., Chaplin Malone, Pug and me, Irvin L., Red J. and a salesman from the largest local produce company, I believe there were others but I cannot recall thier faces or names. I do recall that I was chosen some time later to ask Chaplin Malone not to attend our closed meetings, he not being alcoholic. I was very scared to do this but I did it and got drunk the next day. This was the story of my life at that time.

A.A. survived my lack of membership and continued to grow, I remember I went back and Tommy T. had shown up stayed until noe to the best of my knowledge. I absolutly denied my alcoholisim for many more years and towards the end I came back to Murfreesboro and lived at the A>A. group room on Memorial Blvd. with another drunk for awhile. I got into the program and began practicing the program on May 13, 1973 and continue in my recovery, one day at a time.

I have continued to attend A.A. periodically in Murfreesboro and saw a number of my ex drinking partners come into the program and find sobriety, I met Rufus S. and he attempted to sponsor me, early on but even God could not help me during that time. Percy R. and Pint G. and Bill S., and Mike G. and many others have come along and continued the growth of A.A. in Murfreesboro and I am truly grateful for the program, without it I would still be practicing alcolisim if still alive. I hope my membership card is still in the box, I havent looked latly, but I am still a member of any A.A. group I attend, Murfreesboro is the most dear to me. Thank you and God.

George Monroe A.

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