Tag: Alcoholics Anonymous

A Walk Among The Tombstones.

walktombstones

It is strange that there was never a trailer in any of the recent films that I saw in theaters about the release of this film.  So, when I saw the advertisements for it in the newspapers the only thing that attracted to me was the fact that Liam Neeson was acting in it.  I have been a fan of his since his Schindler’s List hit Indian theaters.

My friend Ramesh and I have a pact;  we must see at least one film a week together followed by a snack or a meal and we have been able to keep that going for quite some time now. So, I rang him up and suggested that we see this together yesterday and we duly did that.  We also fulfilled the second part of the pact by having some very nice snacks and tea at the food court in the mall where the theater is located.  I was also able to do some long overdue shopping at the mall.  All in all a good afternoon’s outing in good company.

This week promises to be more interesting as we both have not seen a highly rated Hindi film and it is likely that we will go to it before the week is over.  If it is of some relevance to my regular readers, I shall review that too after seeing it.  In the meanwhile, here goes my review of A Walk Among The Tombstones.

Unlike most films, this films does not depend on any female actress for any contribution other than as some background information. That makes it very unusual. It also unapologetically brings in the Twelve Step Program of the Alcoholics Anonymous as part of the background but that fits in perfectly with the story and the characters using that in the storyline.

It is a powerful story told simply and the violence is not over board like many new detective stories now a days tend to be.  Characters develop nicely and the director ensures that the actors deliver credible performances.  And my favourite actor delivers a memorable performance.  I give the film [rating=6].  Having thoroughly enjoyed the film I am contemplating getting the book to read too!

C

Rediscovery.

Welcome to the Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium where twelve of us write on the same topic. Today’s topic has been chosen by Paul. The eleven other bloggers who write regularly are, in alphabetical order, Conrad, Delirious, gaelikaa, Grannymar, Magpie, Maria SF, ocdwriter, Padmum, Paul, Rohit and Will. Do drop in on their blogs and see what their take is on this week’s topic. Since some of them may post late, do give some allowance for that too!

Discovery is the act of removing the cover from something hidden from view. Rediscovery would then mean to enact the process all over again. We however tend to think of discovery as the process of finding something that did not exist. That is simply not possible logically.

I discovered Alcoholic Anonymous in 1998. Before that, I had heard of it from various sources with references to some worthy individuals doing a great job of saving alcoholics. In 1998 alcoholism invaded my space in a big way and after futile attempts at handling it on my own, I sought the help of AA and as I write this, I have not had a drink for the last 12 years and 7 months. My son who is also in the movement, for the past 11 years. He had his Thanks Giving meeting just last week.

Before I went to a meeting for the first time, I read all about alcoholism and the AA movement from the various publications that are readily available, so it was not a difficult meeting for me. I immediately saw that the meeting and the movement could be very effective in solving my problems and to make it possible, I left my career in the South of India and moved back to Pune where regular meetings were taking place and people that I could identify with were in the movement.

Since my late wife was also an affected person, she would accompany Ranjan and me to the meetings. We regularly attended our home group’s meetings and many others in the initial days where, it is suggested that a recovering alcoholic makes ninety meetings in ninety days. We continued to go to meetings till my wife’s health made it impossible for her to attend and I had to be with her at home. Our son however has been very regular and is also very active in taking the message to suffering alcoholics and helping them recover. He recently organised a weekly meeting for a new group to cater to alcoholics close to our home who find it difficult to attend meetings in the city. That group has taken off and it is a very satisfying feeling to see it help alcoholics in our neighbourhood.

Due to various reasons, I got out of the habit of going to the meetings though, a lot of the friends that I had made during my active meeting going days, continued to drop in and stay in touch. I also sponsored two alcoholics who still keep in touch with me.

After his thanks giving meeting last week, Ranjan asked me if I would like to attend the Monday meeting of our home group. Since making meetings is on my intentions list for 2012, I readily agreed and I attended the meeting on Monday the 9th inst. It was a grand reunion with many of my friends, who without exception were very happy to see me back at a meeting. In fact, I rediscovered the power of the AA movement during that meeting. It is rare to find so much love and fellowship in one room, like what one could get in an AA meeting.

I am glad that I rediscovered AA. I hope to keep it uncovered in the future.