houtx wrote:
Hi to both Krises!
Who did not feel isolated with this addiction before the book was published in October? I remember well how I stumbled upon it - and the HUGE amount of hope and amazing numbers of friendships I suddenly had and have made here. It has been a significant source of comfort and hope - along with laughter & irritation - this site has become a lifeline. It is too big to respond to everyone, but look at how many "views" there are on certain threads, and it's pretty cool.
Glad you are here, Misskris!
Hi Misskris,
I promised myself NOT to spend much time on here today - most of yesterday was spent catching up on posts after several days away from home. If I keep this up I'm going to miss a very important work deadline. But this place is a Godsend, and we 'old-timers' already have much to share with the newbies.
I so identify with what you say here, houtx. Yesterday I was coming out of the neighborhood store, and a friend of mine had her boyfriend's two grandkids at the ice cream shop next door. She babysits them often - though he treats her like crap. She is one of the kindest, most sacrificially giving people I know. Another gal who is down on her luck (who is actually
always down on her luck) is now living with her. Her son, now in jail, also took advantage of her big heart for far too long.
Anyway, this gal has a big drinking problem. Goes to the neighborhood bar a couple times a week and drinks till she has to be carried out. I noticed yesterday that she has aged 10 years in the past year or so (and she's always been a very attractive woman). I took a moment to talk with her, and commented on how much I appreciate all that she does for other people. Her response? "Yeah, even though I get ****-faced all the time!"
She evidently feels that all her kindnesses don't count, b/c she's an alcoholic. What's THAT got to do with anything, really? But isn't that what we all do? We totally identify ourselves as 'worthless drunks,' and forget all the good and right things we are capable of.
I do so hope she, and other friends of ours, will see the changes in Jake and me and try TSM. But I'm resisting talking about it any more. . .have to let the changes speak for themselves.
Alcoholism
sucks.