Friday night highlight

Recently, I was reminded that every region has a unique AA signature.

I attended an AA meeting in Thunder Bay, a small mid-western Canadian town. It was a men’s meeting. The topic was “the benefits of sobriety.”

One of the guys shared, “I have lots of benefits of sobriety, but the best is going to Home Depot Friday night, after supper.”

The room agreed, one fellow said, “oh yeah, for sure,” another said, “exactly, right on.”

The speaker had hit a chord that resonated.

But I was puzzled. I like Home Depot as much as the next guy, but the universal approval given to a share about Home Depot on a Friday night, after supper, must be a Thunder Bay highlight.

As if he’d read my mind, our AA brother continued, explaining it all. He said, “when I was drinking, I had the same routine every bloody day. I would get home from work, park my truck, shower, and start drinking. Eventually, the wife and I would have supper. After supper, I began to drink seriously and saw no reason to get out of my Lazy Boy.

“I love going to my lake cabin on the weekends, and you guys know, there is always something at the cabin that needs doing, and that means a trip to Home Depot.

“I used to wake up every Saturday, hungover, and go to Home Depot. Every week, I arrived at the lake late in the morning, and usually, I was still hungover.

“Now that I am sober, after supper on Friday night, I can drive to Home Depot and get whatever needs getting. Saturday, I leave for the cottage first thing in the morning. I am on the road before Home Depot opens.

“And every time I get to the lake, and unload my truck, damn, I am so grateful I am sober in AA.”

One of the other guys added, “and Home Depot is packed on Saturday mornings.”

“For sure, yeah,” our AA brother replied, “the benefits keep getting better.”

In Thunder Bay, cottage country, Home Depot after supper on a Friday night is a sobriety highlight. Got it.