I agree that I can't do anything about her drinking. Her own adult children complain that she overdoes it. Maybe, if I had adopted the policy of not continuing a conversation when there was the slightest sign she was under the influence, this could have been avoided. If we reconcile, maybe that should be the policy going forward. That would put a big chill in the relationship. But the alternative is to have breakdowns like we are in the midst of now.

Her life is hard. She's had more than her share of bad luck. It seems to have made her into an increasingly angry person. I feel sorry for her. But these incidents leave me hurt and upset. Then I have to recover, which takes time. I'm emotionally unstable enough with my own internal tendencies. I don't have the psychic energy to absorb these emotional sucker punches that come out of nowhere over nothing.