Ham On Wry Humor From The Grapevine Archive

From the AA Grapevine, Vol. 57 Issue 6, November 2000;

NERVOUS ABOUT HEARING HIS FIRST FIFTH STEP, a young priest asked an older priest to sit in on the session. After the AA member had described a few of his experiences, the older priest motioned the young one to step out into the hall.

“Cross your arms over your chest and rub your chin with one hand like this,” the older priest directed him. The young priest tried it. “Good,” said the older priest. “Try saying ‘I see. Yes, go on.’ And, ‘I understand. How did you feel about that?’” The young priest complied. “Now don’t you think that’s a little better than slapping your knee and saying, ‘No way! What happened next?’”

Of course, you realize, I did my Fifth Step with a priest… lmao