Nevertheless - congrats on your 10th anniversary! How fabulous that you got free and now have a whole new life. I'm very sorry to hear of your friend's passing.
My drinking habits were very similar. I can't believe how much beer I could put away. In the end, I was just drinking so I wouldn't shake. It was never fun anymore, & hadn't been for years. What a miserable existence, yet I was so afraid to let go. Thankfully we got free. Thank you for an inspiring post.