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March 24, 2004
Life Lessons Through Liquor
Alcohol is a crutch. It's a stress reliever. A stress inducer. A game face. It's an indicator of one's success as well as one's downfall. It can be used to celebrate a joyous occasion and it can lead to a tragic event. It's good for your health and bad for your health. It can cost as much as you want or as little as you can afford. It can be used to toast a marriage and to forget a divorce. Like a gun, it all depends on the person, and what they choose to do with it.
Now, I'm not a drinker, but my family is well-versed in libations. One side of my family, in particular, seems to be in a race to the grave with a bottle in their hands. Many of those who've already died, died young. And many of those who are still living don't have much living left. And, with this being the week of St. Patrick's Day, should I dare mention that this side of my family is almost entirely Irish? Memories of my childhood are smattered with images of drunk aunts, uncles, and cousins at the local Irish club. At first, these images were scary. Then, they became funny. Now, they're just sad. It's sad to think about how much life these people missed simply because they couldn't get their heads out of the bottle.
The other side of my family handles their liquor a little bit better. But there is one person (who shall remain nameless) who, after a few after dinner Southern Comforts, magically transforms into an incoherent crooner, accompanying himself equally as incoherently on the piano. He'll then move to a recliner, and fall asleep watching TV with his glass balanced perfectly on the armrest. Amazing.
I worked in restaurants for the better part of ten years, and have seen all kinds of people (including many public figures you would know) in various stages of intoxication. Some would get mean, some would get flirtatious, and some would say things they'd never have said if they'd been sober...and if they had known that, one day, I'd be the editor of a local newspaper.
In social occasions, I'm usually the one being accosted by a drunk person who desperately wants me to "join the party." He or she will ask me over and over and over (and over) again if I want a drink. Is it insecurity on their part? Do they feel self-conscious or gulity that they're drinking and I'm not? Or have they simply forgotten that they've already asked me? I don't care if people want to drink. Why do they care if I don't?
I try not to judge, but I'll admit that I'd rather spend my time with sober people than drunk people. I understand that many folks struggle with problems bigger than I could ever imagine. Going through those struggles with a sound mind, though, teaches you how to better deal with them (or even avoid them completely) the next time around. Avoiding problems by getting drunk takes away life's one common purpose: learning.
Pulse Columns | By colrus | 03:22 AM
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