Someone has to be the drunk for the sober people to laugh at, right?
Hey, all, thanks for this. It really helps to know that I’m not the only one making this choice. Though, my not-drinking is something that I’ve always been really proud of. Veb, I think your words ring the truest of all. One reason I don’t drink is because I have a big family history of alcoholism, and that’s something I don’t wanna mess with. Also, I’m terrified of what I’d do if I was drunk. I make enough of a fool out of myself as it is, when I’m sober.
Dave, I’m sorry to come across as condemning of drinking. I can’t begin to comprehend what you’re going through right now, but your threads make me feel terrible for you. Best wishes to whatever happens with your situation, and know that we’re all here for you.
{{{{dave}}}}
Hey, Jester, glad for your question and response.
And enormous, widest-armed, heartfelt embraces to Dave. Nothing, nothing feels weirder, emptier or more wrong than vacuum where usual life resides.
Forgive my de-rail, but alchohol is a symtom and maybe a disease, but in truth it’s nothing more than a tool. It is a powerful tool for joy, companionship, love of life or an instruement of total destruction.
Tools magnify the strengths, purposes and ends of the users.
I’m still a guilt-ridden, bewildered mess because somehow the the means–wine, alcohol, spirits–magnified faults and made simple the worst betrayals. Casual infidelities, flagrant affairs, public disgrace, degredation, shame, delirium, and descent…but alcohol didn’t create; it just loosed.
Frankly, it still makes no sense. Alcholism runs in my family and I can take it over leave it. The Ex, with no risk factors, is now only a few rungs above a vegetable.
Wish I knew the rules, but I don’t. Gracious alchemy of time and elements produce wine, beer, spirits. Don’t know why that alchemy graces and enlightens my life, when it destroyed someone who seemed invincible.
Just…keep respect for the tool, I guess. No rush, and caveat emptor.
Sorry, I’m prone to blithering.
Veb
I didn’t mention the one big problem with getting drunk. Your problems will still be there after you sober up.
My quick take: Drunk watching isn’t fun. It gets very old.
And you feel worse than before, which adds to your problems.
I’m of a mixed mind about the whole DARE thing. On the one hand, alcoholism runs in my family, one of the ways I screwed up my life was with liquor, and I’m very, very happy that my children have chosen to stay dry. On the other hand, the way alcohol is presented in our local DARE program left my daughters convinced my wife was going to die in her seat when she had one beer at a baseball game. What I’m getting at is that a healthy fear of booze is a good thing, but instilling extreme fear in kids can backfire when they see people drinking and NOT getting into accidents or dying or ruining their lives. It makes everything they were taught sound like bullshit and the siren call of booze gets stronger.
Veb, I look forward to meeting you at (one of) the Chifests. We can raise a cold one (yours real, mine Diet Pepsi) to knowing ones limits. Then you can be my conscience, since I don’t really have one about booze. No work on your part; just your presence will keep me honest.
Jester, I’m just down the way a bit and usually up… I never drank through high school and rarely had a problem with it. ICQ or AOLIM me if you want to talk.