SoloMio

AH returned home from vacation two weeks ago filled with resolve not to drink for a couple of months.

Yesterday he broke that resolve, and I believe that he was probably out with his drinking buddies. Problem was, one of those buddies was missing.

Joe the Fireman was absent because he's in the hospital dying of cirrhosis and kidney failure. AH told me that this morning. I asked how old he was, and apparently he's younger than AH. He just retired from the local fire department.

I guess there was a time when I would have said, "See?? Do you want that to be you??" I just said, "What a tragedy."

I think AH is out right now raising a glass to Joe the Fireman with the remaining drinking buddies, and the collective denial--including my own at times--is just another tragedy.

Seren

What a horrible shame to hear about your AH's friend! My prayers for him and his family.

natamars

That is so, so sad. One of AH's friends was also hospitalized for problems most likely caused by alcohol. The doctor told him to stop drinking if he wanted to live. I think he stopped for a month before he was at it again, now claiming to be more moderate. If a warning of death won't stop someone, what will?

LifeRecovery

Sending warm thoughts to all those impacted.

Addiction really stinks!

wanttobehealthy

And that story illustrates perfectly the insanity of alcoholism. Someone is DYING from it and that guys buddies are out DRINKING and think that it's completely sane to do so.

I feel badly for Joe the Fireman's family.