Our Southern Friend p208-218

Hello folks,

This week we'll be reading Our Southern Friend p208-218. The writing is kinda odd, this fella writes the way I'd imagine a deep southerner would talk. But it's really an excellent story and that's what matters.

At the beginning he makes mention about singing "Sweet Adeline" and I've heard many, many references to this song through out our literature. Not being a southern gentlemen myself (at least not the southern part), I was curious about what the big deal with this song is. First published in 1903 by Richard H. Gerard, the song is considered a barbershop quartet classic.

There is an excellent version of it you can listen to here sung by The Mills Brothers recorded in.... 1939 (is that odd or is that god??).

The lyrics are as follows:

In the evening when I sit alone a-dreamingOf days gone by, love, to me so dear,There's a picture that in fancy oft' appearing,Brings back the time, love, when you were near.It is then I wonder where you are, my darling,And if your heart to me is still the same.For the sighing wind and nightingale a-singingAre breathing only your own sweet name.

Sweet Adeline, (My Adeline,)My Adeline, (My Adeline,)At night, dear heart, (At night, dear heart,)For you I pine. (For you I pine.)In all my dreams, (In all my dreams,)Your fair face beams. (Your fair face beams.)You're the flower of my heart,Sweet Adeline. (My Adeline.)

Obviously, they're talking about a girl, but there's something about that romantic, nostalgic, and longing tone of it that makes me understand why this song was a favorite among the drinking folk of the time (you've gotta listen to it!).

Indeed, many of us had our feet firmly planted in the magical world of make belief -- of romanticism & nostalgia. We long & lust after what we don't have and gripe & complain about what we do have. Maybe that's why the Living Sober book in chapter 27 on Letting Go of Old Ideas says: Our days of wine and "Sweet Adeline" may be gone, but the malady lingers on.

I find it helpful to remember that what we really have is not just a drinking problem, its a living problem and so it requires a living  solution. According to the Big Book, what we really have is a daily reprieve based on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Hence, we stay sober one day at a time -- and that's the reality!!
       

Best Regards,

David t.

2015 Meeting Dates

01/29/14  Speaker Meeting <Shane B>

02/26/14  Speaker Meeting <Fred D>

03/26/14  Speaker Meeting <Pete T>

04/30/14  Speaker Meeting <Clive T>

05/28/14  Speaker Meeting <Todd P>

07/30/14 Speaker Meeting <Dave W>

08/27/14 Speaker Meeting <Edwin H>

09/24/14 Speaker Meeting <Larry H>

10/29/14 Speaker Meeting <David t>

11/26/14 Speaker Meeting <Roy M>

-->Book: Being Sober and Becoming Happy

01/28/15 Speaker Meeting <Steve W.>

02/25/15 Speaker Meeting <Gerard P>

03/25/15 Speaker Meeting <Mark D.>

--> Book: A New Pair of Glasses by Chuck C. 

04/29/15 Speaker Meeting <Russ W.>

05/27/15 Speaker Meeting <Omar P.>
06/24/15 Speaker Meeting <Ricardo A.>

--> New Book: Personal Stories back of Big Book of AA <--

07/22/15 Dr.Bob's Nightmare p171-181

07/29/15 Speaker Meeting <Adam S.>

08/05/15 Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three p182-192
08/12/15 Gratitude in Action  p193-199
08/19/15 Women Suffer Too p200-207
08/26/15 Speaker Meeting <Kevin M.>

09/02/15 Our Southern Friend p208-218

09/09/15 The Viscous Cycle p219-231

09/16/15 Jim's Story p232-245

09/23/15 The Man Who Mastered Fear p246-257

09/30/15 Speaker Meeting