|
My grandpa is an alcoholic. It's what broke up his first two marriages. Apparently when I was born my mom put down the ultimatum that he quit or never see his granddaughter. He didn't have a drink for 26 years. Then at a family reunion he decided he wanted a beer. We were all quite worried where it would lead but he had A beer. It's now been 38 years and he's never fallen off the wagon but will have a beer or a shot about twice a year at special occasions. He does have rules about no alcohol in the house and when we visit we limit what we bring just in case.
The downside is that it has set a bad precedent for the rest of the family. My mom's side of the family is full of alcoholics. I can't count the number of family members that have quit then decided well one won't hurt me. Look at F he can handle it. So far no one else in the family have been able to handle doing what my grandpa does.
We talked about it once and I asked if it was hard for him to have just one. He told me that it felt like an itch that would just about drive him mad. But he said just getting to have one scratched it a little and I was his motivation to not drink more than one. He said if he had more than one he wouldn't stop and he doesn't ever want me to see him like that. From what I've heard he's a complete jerk when he's drunk.
|