Serenity Lane
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Serenity Lane Alumni Community

Attention Alumni:

Serenity Lane is working on an exciting new project, and we need your help. Our rich history will finally be documented in a book, and we want to invite you to submit your personal testimonials. Describe your experiences at Serenity Lane, and explain how Serenity Lane has affected your life. Select stories will be included in a chapter devoted entirely to Alumni voices. Please send your submissions by mail, fax or email without attachments. If you have any questions, please contact Shely Rahimi, Alumni Coordinator.

Submissions will not be returned to the author, and Serenity Lane retains the rights to edit and publish text once received.

Newsletter feedback

What a great spring issue. It caused my mind to be uplifted with wonderful thoughts, images and memories. After nearly 27 years (6/19/80) in recovery, it is time I checked in with those friends for whom I owe so very much.

Like Georg C., I too participated in the Serenity Lane intern program and rotated for a year with Jim, Shirley, Leroy and Brad. I enjoyed 20 years as an Alcohol and Drug Therapist, (retired 2002). I still average a meeting a week. I have a sponsor, and I am a sponsor.

Make no mistake; Life on life's terms is still just that. I still do it "one day at a time." I still read the first 164 pages of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous each year before my anniversary (it is not a must, but a good suggestion).

When I think back to those days, it is difficult to say what is most important. Of this I am sure; without the long aftercare program with Leroy Bishop, my intense involvement with the Alumni Association, AA/NA, I do not believe that inpatient treatment alone would have been enough to get me clean and sober and stay that way.

Jim Creasey was my counselor while in treatment. I think and speak of him often in my lead, as well as his wife Jeannie, who is only rivaled by Lois Wilson herself. When I am asked, what is the secret to successful recovery, I repeat what Jim C. told me. He said, "John, when your desire to stop becomes greater than your desire to use, you will." It did and I have. I wish the same for those that read this.

John H.

Shares

Darrell

My name is Darrell. I am alcoholic/addict and a bunch of other stuff. I was at the Lane starting July 26, 1994. I have not had a drink or drug since and today is April 17, 2005. I was one of Jim Creasey's guys. I loved the man to his final day. The reason I have not drank or used in over ten years is because SL put me with Jim, Jim put me with AA, and AA put me with God. For all of this ten years I have had a sponsor, worked the Steps in my daily life, sponsor others, do service work, always at three to five meetings a week and pray. I have a life I could not imagine ten years ago. I came here with nothing but a couple of boxes and several Hefty bags of junk. That was all. Who knew when my last shower was. Now I have an accountant and a lawyer.

Who would have thunk it.

Still Sober----1982

I am happy to say I am still sober even though it is still "One Day at a Time". In the past 23 years I have gone through 2 divorces and many minute by minute prayers to stay sober.

My counselor at SL was Jim Creasey. During one of our sessions he had 5 of us stand up. I was one of them. He told us to look around because only one of the 5 standing would still be alive in 5 years. I am the only one "left standing"; that must mean something. I believe Jim was telling us all something important. You have to take responsibility for decisions you make daily. Staying sober has been one of the hardest but most rewarding things I have done.

I had a son after getting out of treatment and raised him with the knowledge of how important it was to stay sober and have sober people around me. Unfortunately he chooses to drink. I have had to do one of the hardest things I ever did - let him go. I told him to move out and take responsibility for himself. It's like he never heard any of the words or saw anything at the numerous meetings he attended with me.

Hard to let go.

I wonder, do any of you have experience with children that have followed the drinking path even after being given a life of tools to fight it??

From Coos Bay to Christine Justice, Clinic Coordinator:

Chris,
Thank you so much for all your love and support. I feel like I'm finally starting to grow and absorb everything. My road ahead is going to be long and it's going to take a lot of work but I truly believe now that I can make it. My emotions are such a mess right now, but you have helped center myself and realize that this is the journey of my life and not the end of it. I can never thank you enough for that. I have the capacity to choose what I think about. If I choose to think about past hurts then I will continue to feel bad. I can't change the effect these things have had on me once; I can change the way they effect me now. You have shown me that. I need to have patience with myself and know that I'm worthwhile simply because I exist.

Thank you for showing me that.

Love, Shelley