Just Don't Drink

[sober1]

Quite a few years ago my brother and I were having one of our "two or three times a year weather we need to or not" long distance phone conversations. We talked about the usual meaningless mumbo-jumbo that we always talked about. Things like how lousy life was, what was going wrong with our sports teams, how my life was in the same chaos and turmoil as always.

I was sharing with him how again, I was in trouble for another drinking and driving offense; how I might do jail time and how much the attorney and court costs would be; how I couldn't afford all of this and what was I gonna' do... and so on.

Well, my big brother came up with a real pearl of wisdom... he suggested to me "If you're going to drink, just don't drive". Imagine that! NO more problems with the police and courts, no more unaffordable fines and costs, no jail. WOW! Leave it to my older brother (he was always the one who did well in school, went to college and became an engineer etc.)

A few years ago (ironically, on THE day I was sentenced for my felony DUI) I called my mom who lives out state to tell her what the results were of the court proceedings. She told me after my share "we can't find your brother". She said his mailbox is overflowing, his vehicle is in the parking lot however no one has talked with him for a few days. I was immediately uneasy.

Later that day, a family member and the police department broke into his condo and found him, deceased. The autopsy revealed he passed from pneumonia and liver cirrhosis. My mom told me when she went to the condo to take care of his belongings that "if there was one liquor bottle in there, there were 100". Alcoholisim strikes again. Apparently he had isolated (can anyone relate to that and drank himself to death. This was a few years back, and I have long since processed the whole event... "But for the Grace of God, There Go I".

This is a true story - I often share it at tables - especially treatment center meetings I attend. It's important that we realize going out "one more time" isn't an option. So DO THE STEPS - "God could and would if He were sought".