I think you're entirely right, madisgram. From what Don has told me about AA it's a really, really impressive program. A lot more direct, in a way, than therapy. Never in his life has he (to me, at least) given any impression of pain or desperation. And I consider myself an expert in sniffing those things out. But there has to have been a deep reason for his being an alcoholic for most of his life. So at the bottom of it all there may well be a lot of pain and desperation. He's just been avoiding it all his life. Repressing it. What have you. But there's no doubt he's getting a lot of help from AA not just as regards alcohol but also regarding internal peace and calm. Take care, and thanks!