Marie B., Cleveland, Ohio.
(p. 378 in 1st edition.)
Marie, a non-alcoholic, was the wife of Walter B. (“The Backslider”). Walter first joined A.A. in September 1935.
There is indication in the Akron archives that Marie may have written the first draft of “To Wives,” which Bill then edited. But “Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers” and “Lois Remembers” both state that Bill W. wrote it.
She started her brief story by saying “I have the misfortune, or I should say the good fortune, of being an alcoholic’s wife. I say misfortune because of the worry and grief that goes with drinking, and good fortune because we found a new way of living.”
Marie worried constantly about her husband’s drinking, went to work to pay the bills, covered his bad checks, and took care of their home and their son.
When he stopped drinking she thought their problems were over, but soon found she had to work on her own defects and that they both had to give their problems to God.
She ended her story by saying “My husband and I now talk over our problems and trust in a Divine Power. We have now started to live. When we live with God we want for nothing.”