This story is a thank you to all the folks who help us get sober and stay that way.

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I spend two weeks in Austria every October. Last year, I convinced my folks to make the trip with me to see one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. At the time, I was five months sober and it was the first sober vacation I had ever taken.

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We had just arrived in Salzburg, one of the most touristy places in the country, and needed to find a restaurant. Of course, it was a Friday night, and we didn't have a reservation. Every restaurant we went to told us it would be at least an hour before we could get a seat. Hungry and frustrated, we headed back to the hotel. I knew there was a pizza-place close by.

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They also told us it would be an hour. I ordered for us, and we went back to the hotel to wait and relax. When Dad and I went back to the restaurant an hour later, the pizza still wasn't ready. In fact, we waited another half-hour at least. By means of apology, the owner brought us two small glasses of white wine on the house. I thanked him profusely for his kind gesture. The man had no way of knowing the spot he had just put me in.

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As the owner walked away, my Dad must have seen the look of panic in my eyes. He knew at this point that I wasn't drinking, but didn't know it was permanent. As I'm looking around for a potted-plant I can discretely tip the stuff into, Dad takes my glass and empties it. He set the glass back in front of me without a word, then slowly sipped his own.

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If someone in your life is helping you, take a moment to say thank you to them. Thanks Dad.