The other day we had a discussion meeting on “ freedom from bondage”. Of coarse I had to add my comments.

By the end of my drinking I was in a pickle, plus I was pickled. I was drinking 2, two liter bottles of vodka a day. This in it’s self is a time consuming problem. You have to spread out you drinks or you will be going up and down like a yoyo. This doesn’t leave much time for a job. Actually it leaves no time for a job, and in a way, that a good thing; because it will get you past that constant rejection of being fired over and over again. Now you have time for other important task; like daily trips to the liquor store and disposing of empties so you trash doesn’t look like you are a drunk.

And then there are the logistical problems. You have to make sure that there is an ample supply of booze hidden in you vehicle. You could break down in a dry area or worst a dry county and even worst you may be there over night. Since there were times when you would run out and have to drink up your car inventory in a black out; only to be caught later with NO BOOZE. You had to re-check the car inventory on a regular basis ( Saying to yourself someone may have stole it.).Because, we couldn’t have NO BOOZE. God ! do you remember NO BOOZE. END OF THE WORLD SHERE PANIC ! OUT OF BOOZE !

And if you were like me you also had to ware clothes that were conducive to hiding booze on your person. Even in a bar you needed real booze on hand to fortify yourself, from getting the shakes caused by weak bar drinks. Boots were great in the winter because you could fit two pints in them. But they did not work well with your bathing suit or shorts in the summer. But, a hot water bottle full of booze did give you the appearance of a nice package in a loose bathing suit at the beach. It was just every time you needed a drink you had to be care full that people would not think you were playing with yourself.

And if some said “ Hey, Let’s go so in so…. Ride with us” You couldn’t do it. They may not have enough booze. Hell, They might not have any booze in the car. They may stay at the place long after the booze had run out and there you would be; trembling, shaking, and sweating, with people saying “are you all right?” Well hell no, I’m not all right you powder house fart ! I am dying for a drink.

They may take you to a dry county. There you are in a convince store hoping your friends will not see you pour a bottle of lemon extra into your Sprite. Or buy, down and dispose of a bottle of Nyquil before anyone could see.

And as if that is all not enough; there is the problem of not looking or smelling like a drunk. It gets to a point that your supply of Tic Tacs are as hard to maintain as you booze. Part of the denial of you problem is being unwilling to face the fact you need to buy them by the case. And even so, the day comes, when the Tic Tacs no longer work and you try things like drinking Listerine and you worry that even though it contains sufficient alcohol, but the eucalyptus could be bad for your stomach.

And as your body becomes more toxic, bathes become more and more frequent, (what a water bill for a fellow who doesn’t even drink it) and the cost of deodorant and cologne skyrocket. And don’t think coating your whole body with deodorant is not time consuming. It is. Of coarse soon you will not really have to worry about hygiene. Because one of the other freedoms you give up is the freedom to have a relationship.  You will not even be able to remember why people are mad at you. And forget sex, women are not impressed when you pass out mid stroke or intercourse be comes like shoving a clam into a coin slot.

All in all in the end it is a death sentence, but you think things are going good, because you just got another stay of execution and you can live a little longer on death row.