Kyrgyzstan
 

So AH's latest binge--the record two-month binge of 7 bottles of wine a day--is over. Still couldn't get into any detox programme but he was so desperate to quit that he white-knuckled it and detoxed at home with a lot of shaking and vomiting and weird infected eyes.

People in his circle of friends have taken to contacting me to offer their "support." I think that he reached out a bit more during the last binge and asked other people for help, and so a lot of his acquaintances in town have in turn reached out to me. Which sounds nice, right? Except that most often this takes the form of:

1. Stories of dead alcoholics. I've gotten three emails in the past week with stories about people's brothers-in-law, uncles, or friends who died horrible deaths from alcohol-related diseases. Thanks!

2. Stories of how strong and capable I am. If I scarcely know you--if we've literally met once at a Christmas party--of course you've never seen me cry and moan. So of course I seem strong and capable to you. Is this just people's way of saying, "It's no big deal, is it, really? So I don't have to actually do anything besides send an email, right?"

2. Inviting me and AH out to the pub. Or, you know, for cocktails at someone's house. For some togetherness time or something. I wish I were making this up.

Tonight I have been looking at jobs in Kyrgyzstan. No, I'm not kidding. I need a change of scenery.

WTH is Kyrgystan? LOL.

I can't believe people would invite you out to a bar or over for cocktails, just amazing.

It's the dead alcoholic stories that get me though.

"Hi I just thought I'd see how you are doing. My brother-in-law got cirhossis and died a long agonising death."

"I know what you're going through. My friend's wife killed herself after rehab."

"My grandfather was a mean drunk who died getting beat up by a bunch of kids outside a pub."

Merry Christmas!

Maybe Hallmark will design a "sorry your husband's a drunk" card and save these people the trouble.

omg, I am dying at the hallmark card.

Maybe we can get a 2 for 1 specail to Kyrgyzstan
Let me know, dates and times, IM IN!!!

Hallmark card...I think I peed, laughing...

It's a twisted thought, but those card's with real pictures, could
become something like the million dollar pet rock!

I would buy one!

Nothing good ever comes from "drinking and dialing"...... Hallmark card, LOL!

A Hallmark card to "capture the moment," on this stuff....absolutely cracked me up!

I think Maxine needs to be involved some time.

The giggling has been intense.

Sorry for the rough patch, but thanks for making mine a little lighter.

Akrasia, maybe we could have a card contest, the winner gets a one way ticket for the alcoholic of their choice to any country that ends in "stan".

Glad you can laugh at this amidst all the pain,

Please take care and best of luck to you,

Bill

OMG-dead alcoholic stories & inviting you guys' to a pub.....seriously, with friends like that who needs enemies, LOL? (((hugs you))).

Can't you ship the man to Kyrgyztan instead?

The Moon?

Hugs akrasia, I like your sense of humor. There are so many ideas for such Hallmark cards, quotes and images, its a great artistic idea. It reminded me of an exhibition where there were postcards from Peru, but with really poor/abandoned areas images.

None of his friends have stories of recovering alcoholics who have good lives?

That's depressing.

Alcoholics who get into a program, get and stay sober, turn their lives around. Unfortunately they aren't the norm but the exception.

Unbelievable isn't it...
I don't think people know what to do or say, so they say and do stupid things.
When I had stopped drinking (week 1) my mother met me in her driveway and asked me if I would run out to the liquor store and pick up a bottle of wine for her....(whut?) She isn't an alcoholic.

:lmao this thread is hilarious!

What kind of jobs are there in - heck I can't even spell it - Kyrgystan?

gerry is right - people say stupid things...and its great to find a way to laugh about it instead of taking it seriously.

I don't think people know what to do or say, so they say and do stupid things.

Ooooh, that's me! I can't believe what I blurt out when I feel anxious!

Maybe I need to wear a disclaimer: "The opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinion of the person expressing them when she's nervous" or something to that effect.

Are there Hallmark cards for chronic "foot in mouth" disease?

We may be on to something with the Hallmark Cards ...

:a122:

I meant that it's depressing to be hearing stories like that. It is in no way supportive nor helpful to the alcoholic or their loved ones.