Sober 18 years since 6/2/1988 at age 27, Bobby is an Irish cop from the corrupt Rizzo days in Philadelphia. He was 46 years old at the time of this talk.
He has been very active in ICYPAA since he got sober.
He grew up with seven brothers and sisters in a very blue collar neighborhood in Philadelphia. There was no booze in the house.
"My father did not drink and my mother could not drink. My mother was pregnant for almost ten years."
She also suffered from mental illness and abused prescription medications.
His drinking took off in high school. He would steal from the rich kid's lockers. Against his parents' wishes he refused to go to college. He enlisted in the 70's in the military. Then his drinking really took off. He gave the bare minimum effort to get by.
He came back home and went to college at St. Joseph's also doing the bare minimum.
He got hired on the police force before he was of legal drinking age.
"We were nothin' but a gang with badges." His guilt kicked in and he drank to cover it up.
He used and abused everyone he came in contact with.
From there to an AA podium is a fascinating adventure.
(1 hr 12 min) (24.7 MB) (id#1626)