Over the next few weeks, the “holiday” season gets into full swing – with office parties, family gatherings and the inevitable, big new year’s eve bash. A quick look around at these gatherings and one thing becomes painfully clear: people drink more during the holidays.
This is the time of year when those who normally don’t drink, imbibe in spirits. It almost seems as though it is everywhere Drunk driving accidents skyrocket at this time of year. `Tis truly the season for getting drunk.
It is also the first holiday season that I will face sober…
Nearly three hundred days ago, on March 6, 2005, I had my last bottle of beer – a Sam Adams black lager. I had made the decision to get cleaned up, to get sobered up, for myself and my family. There have been challenges over the past nine months, some days worse than others, but the past week has been torturous.
And I haven’t even gotten to the worst days yet.
I know that so many who post here battle the same demon that I do, they face the same daily struggle to stay clean and sober. I wonder, is this time of year as difficult for them as it has been for me?
I thought I would skate through the season, as most of my friends and family know about my battle – I have been very open about my drinking. That is, until I saw a commercial on Sunday night, then again on Monday and again on Tuesday. This simple commercial for Sam Adams – highlighting their 18 brews – had me wanting to grab the car keys and head out to a bar more than any incident over the past five or six months.
Tomorrow night, I will be attending my office Christmas party. There will be drinking – out of control drinking – just like any other office holiday party. My good friends from work will be putting away the free booze while laughing it up and enjoying our employer’s hospitality. And for the first time, I will be sitting at that table stone sober, and I honestly have no idea how I will react to this situation.
This weekend is the first of a few big family gatherings for celebrating Christmas. Last year, I had more than my fair share of Molson, along with a few good friends, while the kids ran and played and opened gifts. Saturday, I will be there again, along with those friends and family, watching them drink and laugh and whatever. And I will be watching from the sidelines, doing what I can to stay clean.
Looking at the holiday drinking rush from the outside for the first time, I have seen how truly disgusting it can be.
The next few weeks will be tough, tougher than I would like, but I know I will get through it, because of the support of so many good friends…
Peace,
Darrell
