Merry Christmas

to all
a bit of the holiday rush on
so just saying to all
"keep on keeping it on"

"the crew" by frankie, from the old days

To

Formerly known as
THE MINNA STREET GAVONS








December 2004

JUST SENDING A LITTLE SUNSHINE TO THE CREW
AND A HAPPY HOLIDAY TO ALL OF YOU
A trip down memory lane
Of course, can never really explain
Our bonds and friendships and quirks
Like the guy who fell flat on his face in front of Joe’s father………….. WASN’T HE A JERK?

A BRIGHT SPOT HAS ALWAS BEEN
- JOE AND JOHN AND ANGELO AND LOUIE AND PHIL
mike and Kevin and ANTHONY AND BILL
TO PARTY HARDY WITH YOU all ONCE AGAIN
hey, where’s the guy who’s name I forgot?
the guy who, in Pennsylvania, took our you know what
AND I’LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY
JOHN THREW, INTO THE DITCH,
THE BELONGINGS OF THAT POOR, sweet, INNONCENT GIRL Mae
Or was it night?
Or was she a b…..?

But, hey, it is the year 2004
To see you all once again
I couldn’t ask for more
So a happy holiday to each of you
Hey, is that the triumph outside that used to break down even after it had already broken down ?
already?
Whom I still call
“ MY FRIEND”

A VISIT FROM BILL W.

“A VISIT FROM BILL W.”
BY anonymous

‘Twas the night before Christmas,
when all thru the house
Everyone was dead drunk,
even the mouse
The stockings were thrown by the chimney
----Who cared?
No hope at all that St. Nicholas would ever be there
The children all snuggled, with Gypsy Rose wine in their beds
While visions of Ernest and Julio Gallo crushing grapes
danced in their heads
And Mama in her kerchief
and I w/two jugs
Were about to knock off another two 6-packs
of bud chug-a-lugs
When a knock on the door
“---Who the heck could it be?”
As I fell off the couch and crawled on one knee
Opened the door, fell flat on my face
And heard someone say
“Dr. Bob, we’re in the right place”
“You start the coffee, I’ll start the shower”
“Hey, guys” I said, “ Do you want a whiskey sour”
As they shut the door,
I caught a glimpse of the new fallen snow
What me and mamma were in for, little did we know?
One was dressed all in black, from his head to his foot
The other, well, I was so drunk -- who gave a hoot?
They started to twelve step us, right from the start
“You better admit you’re powerless,” Bill W. said,
As he rubbed my face w/snow
Dr. Bob said, “Your life is unmanageable,
John Barleycorn is taking you to hell”
“Give back the Scotch,” I gave out a yell
Bill w. and Dr. Bob all thru the night
They talked and they talked
Me and Mama rolled our eyes
“Who gives a heck? I want a drink!”
We squawked and we squawked
Bill W. gritted his teeth and gave us a long look
Dr. Bob pounded the table as he read the BIG BOOK
Then suddenly it happened ---
THE MESSAGE RANG SO CLEAR
I looked at Mama ////////// she looked at me
“You’re right”, I exulted,
“there will be no more drinking ‘round here”
Sunlight streamed in thru the shutters
As night turned into day
“Mama” I said “get the children ready-----
We’re all going to AA”
Bill W. gave me a pat on the shoulder and a handshake
Dr. Bob gave Mama a hug,
“You can do it,
if meetings, meetings, meetings you make”
Each gave a nod as they walked out the door
To carry the message to so many, many, many more
But I heard them exclaim
Ere they drove out of sight

“HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL IN AA
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT”