Sober 7 years since October 2009, Tim says he always felt like he was in a fish bowl looking out at the world.
Born in Chicago, raised on Long Island until around 5th grade, Tim had his first drink at age sixteen living in Dunwoody - a suburb in North Atlanta.
His father was an executive with a major soft drink company and his mom a nurse. He was the middle of five children - two older brothers and two younger sisters.
He had four DUI's and multiple trips to GMHI (Georgia Mental Health Institute) by his early twenties. He came into AA in 1987. He got active in the Program but drifted away around eight years sober.
His brother's death as a result of AIDS is a touching and telling part of this story.
Fifteen years without a drink, living in Omaha, NE, on a business trip to San Antonio, TX where no one knew he was in recovery, he picked up a margarita and the race was on.
Three DUI's, four trips to the Potter's House - a recovery center in Georgia, trips to the ICU and a remarkable assist from a Marietta Police officer finally gave Tim what we call in the rooms "The Gift of Shift".