Posted on 12/14/2004 3:17:59 PM PST by xcamel
Irish Proverb:
"First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man."
Short and simple. A hard and fast truth for those of us who are admitted alcoholics. Without recovery, the darker truth is "Incarceration, Insanity, or Death". I heard this early on, and tried to imagine if it had "really been that bad". Truth was, I was the only one who didn't know how bad. I was a highly functional drunk. I went to work (and drank for lunch). I did my job (and plotted a route to the fist available 6-pack). Had dinner ( another 6-er for a chaser). What a life.... Or not.
Drunk driving, drunk working, drunk socializing, the drinking had taken the man. I endured the usual ugly indignities, The lies, the deceit. I finally hit "enough" of a bottom to give up and admit only that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. It didn't stop me for long. Eight more agonizing months of drinking and tearing myself to shreds mentally, I surrendered. To alcohol, to a Higher Power, to the lamp post if it would help end the pain. I turned myself over to the HP, the program of AA, and the people the HP put in my path to save my sorry butt. Two of the most important points remain painfully clear even now after 19 years and a little bit ...
If you can not remember when and where you hit bottom, you haven't.
If you can not remember your last drink, you haven't had it yet.
On a happier note, The Christmas Spirit comes not in a pretty bottle, but from those who freely give what they freely have been given.
JSC
So how long have you been sober?
Yes. I think I'll go fix another drink.
Great thread... make sure to keep this up. My family is home to many fine, loving people who happen to be alcoholics, and it's a tough fight through the holidays. But by golly, when they fall off that wagon, they run to get back on it. 
 
My brother's been sober for the last 10 years; he wrote a song about not drinking while others were drinking, and it gets requested at nearly every live show he does! 
 
You all have lots of company out there, and lots more company from the people who love you. Keep up the good work!
Thanks- I like having this here:) 
 
It's so sooo simple only a drunk like me could have missed it- if I don't pick up the FIRST drink, I won't get drunk.
October 27, 1987. That was the day I went clean. I don't tell my story much, I don't want kids to think you can do drugs and succeed.
ping
Xcamel, you told my story, too.
 Today, I try to keep it simple and remember that the best things in life are not things.
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