DECEMBER 1
“SUGGESTED” STEPS
Our Twelfth Step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps, we have each found something called a spiritual awakening… A.A.’s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the Twelve Steps in our program.”TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 106-07
I remember my sponsor’s answer when I told him that the Steps were “suggested.” He replied that they are “suggested” in the same way that, if you were to jump out of an airplane with a parachute, it is “suggested” that you pull the ripcord to save your life. He pointed out that it was “suggested” I practice the Twelve Steps, if I wanted to save my life. So I try to remember daily that I have a whole program of recovery based on all Twelve of the “suggested” Steps.The Revolution – Month Two
Is this the Winter of our discontent? Not so far. Mark C. remains in his detention cell getting “re-educated” to the Principals. What Principals, you ask. That is for this Committee to know and you to find out. So pay attention. Attend the meetings.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF MY MIND
Do you ever wake up in the morning and ask “Now what?”
It’s the reverse of the 13th Step. You know it as “F@#K it”.
Step wise, I feel that by this time, we have gone through 10 of the 12 Steps and have admitted defeat, surrendered control, inventoried our defects, confessed our sins, made amends, and a ton of personal scrutiny. Feel confident that, “Hey, I’ve got this down”.
Until that one morning when there is that voice of doubt. What is going on today? What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to do it? Do I know how to do that? Do I know anyone who does?
I have a Super Star Flashback. Remembering when I would be faced with this morning crisis before and would start with a joint and a shot of bourbon for inspiration. Then I remember. Superstars was staged. Worse, it got cancelled. I don’t wanna be cancelled anymore.
I know, I’ll meditate. Let me get one of those You Tube TV Meditation clips set up. First of course, let me waste about a half an hour on You Tube TV shorts to see what’s going on with everything and everybody else. Let’s try Instgram.
Finally, it’s quiet. I’ve had a coffee. Gone to the bathroom. Let’s meditate.
After about seven minutes I ask myself. Am I talking to God? Oh, wait, A Higher Power? Or that Board of Directors that is always in session going on in my head. Am I bargaining? What can I trade for the least stress in the day? Oh, yeah… now I remember I have to do THAT!. Better start as soon as this is over . What else?
Oh yeah, that. And that. Goddamit, the Kings are on at 5, they haven’t one a game yet. What’s the market doing? Are people really thinking that? Are the 49ers gonna get a wide receiver? What’s Grace doing?
Okay fine, God, Higher Power, Board of Directors … I surrender. I accept the term. You decide and I will act in the most honest, capable and pleasant way I can. And that’s my 11th Step.
Contributed by John M.
Alert
2026 Annual Business Meeting
The Step 2 Men’s Group annual business meeting will be held Friday, December 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., followed by our regular meeting.
We’ll cover the usual business-meeting business: trusted servant updates, the Treasurer’s Report, the annual Grant Miller Award, and anything else the group needs to discuss. Ideas, suggestions, questions, and other matters for the group are welcome.
There will also be food, drinks, and fellowship, because apparently we’ve learned not to schedule a business meeting without feeding people.
If you have questions, suggestions, or something you’d like added to the agenda, let a Mark know.
— Mark C.
November Birthdays
…if they make it!
| 3rd | Jon B. | 8 years |
| 15th | Bob A. | 41 years |
| 23rd | *Dick M. | 13 years |
* In loving memory
Your birthday made ours possible.
Missing, or listed wrong? Our apologies. Please let us know.
Keith, We Hardly Knew Ye.
Keith Dickau
April 20, 1944 – June 16, 2026
Keith D. was one of the first guys I got to know in the Step Two Men’s Group. I knew that punk Mark W. since he was 9 years old, but that didn’t count. There were a couple of guys I met on a Vegas barn burner but we didn’t really know one another. I had listened to the wisdom of Jeff E. at a gym I worked out at off and on without knowing he was in AA. All back in the day.
Keith, I met, because he began at Step 2 Men’s Group just a few months before I did and his sobriety date was not much before mine. So, in the beginning we compared notes so to speak. The Core of Step Two had not accepted either of us completely yet. As we were to find out, the Core was very serious about their sobriety, they weren’t so sure we would stick around. But we did.
I think we are all guarded about our past when entering AA and Keith was like that. He’s drop an anecdote here and there and you would have to dig deeper to find out what he meant.
Keith told me he taught Science at Rio Linda High School. We past the Rush Limbaugh jokes, Cam Skatteboo when he was at Arizona State. Darren Oliver who pitched for the Rangers and was in the 2010 World Series. He even remembered and taught Bob McKenzie who was a tall QB and local Star that went on to play for Oregon State when I was in High School.
Did he ever mention that he was a nationally awarded science teacher in Biology, Science and Mathematics? Hell, no.
That was Keith.
Back around 2016, I saw this exhibit in Midtown Sacramento around 20th and K? with these sculptures of fish in whimsical settings. Along the walls are black and white photos taken by Mike Dickau and in the pictures in various cameos is a guy that looks like Keith.
So when I ask him about it, he says, “Yeah, that’s me. I’m Mike Dickau. Those are my sculptures.” Huh?
We have been in Step Two for about 4 or 5 years by now. He talked about getting his whiskey dropped off wholesale at his house, but did he ever say he was a sculptor? Hell, no. That was Keith.
I’m not sure how it came up. Probably me talking about me, and how I was in the Soviet Union in the 1973. Then Keith told me he had had an art exhibit in Russia back in the day. Of course, I had never heard that, from him or anybody! That was Keith.
In fact, Keith under his artist’s name of Mike, our man Keith had over 270 shows, including exhibits in 26 of the United States, 20 countries. Including Russia and South Korea as well as Public Television and the Discovery Channel and a coffee table book.
In the 1980’s Keith joined a group of fellow artists in a group they called International Union of Mail Artists. You’ll have to figure this out. Here is their/his web page.
First Wednesday… November 4th
Come join a review of Step 11 on November 4th (First Wednesday). “Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.”
John reviews the step corresponding to the number of that month on each first Wednesday. It’s a rewarding meeting with John outlining the step of the month, how he was challenged by it and how we tackle it ourselves, with and without success! Look for his monthly contribution in this edition!
My First Meeting
Please be “of service.” If you’ve never contributed a “My First Meeting”, please help to keep this column going — we need you! What do you remember most of your first meeting? It can be one sentence; it can be up to two paragraphs. Could be funny, poignant or strictly “clinical”. Write what you want — you might even enjoy writing it!
Step 2 Men’s Group Believes…
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step Two
We’d never presume that the 12 Steps are not clear. Nor would we imply that they need ‘improvement’. However…for purposes of assisting to keep the meeting pointed in an important direction each day, the “Step 2 Men’s Group Statement” is read as follows:
Step 2 Men’s Group is founded on the belief that spirituality is essential to our sobriety.
Our group is non-religious, but we do not oppose anyone’s religious beliefs. We believe that respect for others and their beliefs is essential to our spiritual development.
Accordingly we ask that you avoid criticism of others or of their religion or lack of religion, their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, trade or profession, length of sobriety, or personal beliefs.
Our goal is to further our spirituality, our sobriety and our personal development, not to confront or belittle others. Always remember to be kind to others.
Our Trusted Servants Continue to Be:
The current Step 2 Men’s Group meeting schedule is Monday, Wednesday & Friday at Tim’s (3809 J St), Tuesday & Thursday online, Saturday in the park is “Daily Reflections”. Each gathering is one hour. Great job men!
- Monday: Tim C.
- Tuesday: Mark C.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Sean F.
- Friday: Jon B.
- Saturday: Dave M.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, Mark C., Treasurer Mark W. or any of our other Secretaries and let them know!
Extra Special Thanks Dept.
To everyone who made this issue happen:
- Mark W., Founding Editor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, and Treasurer
- Mark C., Once-Enthusiastic Modernizer / Outgoing Editor
- John M., Incoming Editor and Leader of the Revolution
- Terry M., Our Central Office Liaison
- Dave Mc., for Mouses Corner
We’re still waiting for you, gentle reader. Why not contribute a short “something”? Any length, most any AA-related topic, and it could appear next month.
