“S.O.B.E.R. = Son Of A Bitch, Everything’s Real” was published in the book Stepping Stones to Recovery for Young People: Experience the Miracle of 12 Step Recovery (1991), edited by Lisa D. and published by Hazelden. The “sober” backronym (back acronym) has been popular in recovery programs and has been frequently used by actor Gary Busey.
Google Books
Stepping Stones to Recovery for Young People:
Experience the Miracle of 12 Step Recovery
Edited by Lisa D.
Seattle, WA: Glen Abbey Books
1991
Pg. 213:
47. S.O.B.E.R. = Son Of A Bitch, Everything’s Real
Google Books
Beam Me Up, Scotty
By Michael Guinzburg
New York, NY: Arcade Publishing
1993
Pg. 145:
“SOBER,” said the speaker on the podium, a small bald white man in priest get-up. “S-O-B-E-R: Son Of a Bitch, Everything’s Real. As Big Jim used to say, ‘My worst day sober is better than my best day drunk.’”
Google Books
AA to Z:
An Addictionary of the 12-Step Culture
By Christopher Cavanaugh
New York, NY: Main Street Books
1998
Pg. ?:
SOBER. Acronym for Son Of a Bitch, Everything’s Real.
26 July 1998, Beacon Journal (Akron, OH), “Busey wants it known that he’s found Jesus,” pg, F2:
And ‘Bible’ stands for ‘basic instructions before leaving Earth.’ And ‘sober’ stands for ‘son of a bitch, everything’s real.’
Blisstree
Mon, Sep 11 2006
The Dreaded Pink Cloud…
by Mark
I’m subscribed to the principle that when I’m on a “pink cloud” – ride that baby out! For… this too shall pass
With a hat tip to AA Historical Materials at the Hindsfoot Foundation web site we find some solid experience with what to do when a pink cloud wears off.
(...)
It may only be my imagination but somehow I have a feeling that they had already determined by 1955 that the definition of SOBER was “Son of a bitch, everything’s real.”
Empire
Gary Busey On Piranha 3DD
Exploding cows, dragons and ‘Buseyisms’
25 November 2011 | Written by Helen O’Hara
(...)
Next year he’s also planning to release a book called Buseyisms, full of the acronyms he’s been creating since 1999. “‘NASCAR’ stands for Non-Athletic Sport Centred Around Rednecks. ‘SOBER’ is Son Of a Bitch, Everything’s Real’” Etc.
Amazon.com
Sober: Son of a Bitch Everything’s Real [Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]
by Pam R. (Author), Pamela Lorence (Narrator)
Product Details
Audible Audio Edition
Listening Length: 10 hours and 1 minute
Program Type: Audiobook
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Pam R.
Audible.com Release Date: January 4, 2013
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“Laughter is the best medicine…except for treating diarrhea” (4/15)
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More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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