It was a joke, roadcat, though I am sure you know that.
My dad was an alcoholic for all but the last 15 years of his life. I have done things with alcohol that I am not proud of, so I have to be vigilant for my own life.
I work in Health Care, so I understand.
I just joke about it, but I do that about a lot of serious things.
I wasn't offended, and know it was a joke. What happened to my friend was that his drinking caught up with him, then it was too late. He lived life hard and fast, not like me and my wife. My wife doesn't drink, and I stay away from hard liquor. So we didn't hang close with our friends when they partied. Mike used to be in a motorcycle gang, and they partied hard. Had his share of fights and some jail time. I always thought he would die in a fight with someone somewhere. But liquor did him in, and he wasted away over the last ten years with various ailments. He was joking around with us a couple weeks ago as he went downhill, but we knew he realized what he did to himself.
Not trying to be a downer on your mood or too serious. Just laying out the facts that hard drinking took its toll on him. Keep posting the humor!