I'm a co-dependent & was a barmaid for many years. I have to admit, I have a soft spot for alcoholics that is separate from my co-dependency.
I agree there's something "extra" & "special" about most of them. They seem, as a whole, to be more intelligent, more sensitive, funnier & more alive than "regular" people.
I've also attended a few AA open meetings & I have to admit I've laughed till I cried at lots of the outrageous "before" stories.
This is not to condone any of the behavior nor to take away from the seriousness of the condition - it's just my personal observation, which may be colored by my own issues.
I guess the most important thing to take from this story is that the brilliant comet blazing across the horizon will eventually burn out & become a pile of ash falling gracelessly to earth. So - celebrate being a brilliant comet, but make sure you have an exit strategy & use it before disintegration!