It was December 2nd,1984 (my fathers birthday who died a year and a half before my recovery began)a cold Winter morning in upstate New York ,at an old farmhouse where I came to from another drug induced stupor,lifted my head and asked for mercy.After 25 long years from 1959(a boy of 11 with my first documented blackout)until that morning where i finally admitted total surrender and accepted I was an addict and  that I needed help. With the God of my understandings grace,mercy and guidance ,today I celebrate 30 years of uninterrupted daily recovery from active addiction.Thank you for the continuing support here at MIP through the years,to my sponsor and sponsees for our work together and the fellowship and Program that has helped me truly find the goal of recovery through our STEP application in all areas of my life and not just abstinence.Our message is truly one of HOPE and our promise is Freedom,not a magic bullet but a daily journey of work and reflection...WE are all newcomers to each day we are blessed with and in humble gratitude I will continue to move forward in the Solution...If you are new here,just coming back or have been around for a few cups of coffee,,WE remember there is no pedastal for Clean time,,,some have just been treating themselves a little longer than others,but all in daily recovery are those visions of Hope we speak of,,the examples that our program does work,,and our living clean is an attraction to any who may still be suffering....Be in Peace..