I began using at the age of eleven and used for another forty years.   
I used about everything around in the 60, 70 and 80's.  I tried  
recovery for the first time in 1986 and decided I could do it by  
myself.  I didn't use for five years but spiritually and mentally  
became a basket case.  It was almost a relief to use again.  I then  
began ten years of trying the program my own way.  Getting as much as  
two years clean.  I couldn't understand why others could "get it" but  
I couldn't.  I wasn't getting a "high" anymore, I wasn't having fun,  
but I couldn't quit.  Finally one day I tried to pray and there was  
nothing there.  I somehow knew that as long as I used there would be  
no one there.  There was a fellow with some time in and a program I  
had admired.  I asked him to be my sponsor.  I promised to do what  
ever he asked, not what ever seemed to make sense to me or what seemed  
easy.  But whatever he asked.  I did what ever I had to to get high.
I have had several f2f sponsees and one virtual one.  I like the idea  
of cross cultural step work, it teaches me as much as I learn.  It  
lets me know that the steps work for everybody, not just old retired  
bikers.  I work the steps out of the BT and the H&W.  I require  
honesty and open mindedness.  My first sponsor taught me that you do  
what you say and say what you do.