The number is 637-1116.
Did you get that?
Once more: 637-1116.
Write it down.
Now.
Remember it. Use it on New Year’s Eve to call an AA Yellow Cab.
It could save your life.
We can’t tell you whose number that is or where you’re calling, so don’t waste your time looking.
This is strictly an offer from friendly members of Alcoholics Anonymous to drive you home on New Year’s Eve if you’ve had more to drink than you ought to have and know it.
Or don’t know it. But your wife or boyfriend or mother-in-law or best buddy or anybody else who cares whether you live or die — or kill someone else — knows it.
We can’t tell you who’s going to take the wheel because members of Alcoholics Anonymous are exactly what they say they are, anonymous, now and forever.
But you or yours will be driven home by a group of sober and recovering alcoholics who decided they want to offer a “Sober-Ride” home — for free on that night of nights.
“Several of us came up with the idea of doing this,” says one among them. “We’re sober alcoholics wanting to help a problem in our society that continues to come up.
“Constantly we pick up the newspaper and see pictures of car wrecks, devastating wrecks, in which lives are lost, blood is spilled. And we read the account and discover that cans of beer are found in the car or an open bottle of whiskey. They’re immediate clues” to the cause of many horrible scenes.
He remembers a man who worked with a wrecker service describing “a little, bitty baby, its head mashed in, that he had to pick up” after a wreck that involved alcohol.
Some among them — not all, but some — have dealt with DWIs and the consequences of the court system and losing licenses, so they know what happens from unhappy personal experience.
“Our intention is to be of help to those people who are caught up in drinking and trying to drive a car,” he says. “That’s total insanity, like putting a loaded gun to your head.”
He and his friends plan to have a great evening while they help.
“We’re having a dance,” he says. “And we’re going to be drinking Coca-Cola, Cheerwine, Pepsi, coffee — and having tons of fun. And we’ll be sending two people out for every pickup.”
But for all the fun they expect to have, “we’re deadly serious,” he adds. “One of the things we will be acting out as recovering alcoholics is the Serenity Prayer.”
“God, grant me,” he recites, “serenity to accept what I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
“But we’re not going to be there to preach or beat people over the head,” he says. “We’re just going to get them home” — if you or someone who loves you remembers to make the call.
Do you remember that number?
It’s 637-1116.
But in case you forget it on New Year’s Eve, call Rowan Regional Medical Center at 704-210-5000. The switchboard operator will forward the call — and wish you a safe and happy New Year.
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