My first football Sunday intentionally sober
 

Hey everyone. Just feel like typing this out and posting it so I can look back one day and remember!

I was at a BBQ with some friends for NFL Championship Sunday. There was plenty of beer. At first, most of the guys couldn't believe it. One guy (who likes to press buttons) was really ribbin' me. "You're not drinking, Jay?!? Yeah, right!" He also left beer next to me, "just in case." LOL He is the brother of my closest friend at the BBQ.

After several rounds where I was asked if I wanted a beer - "No, thanks. Soda's fine!" "Sorry dude, keep forgetting" - they settled down.

After it sunk in that I wasn't drinking, they all started asking me questions. "So how long have you not been drinking?" "You have a DUI right?" "Is it hard for you?"

I found out that one of them got popped with a DUI recently, and is also thinking of quitting. The one that was joking with me stopped drinking, drank water, and left home early. He kept looking at me throughout the games like he was jealous, or trying to figure me out.

I glanced around and noticed most of them were drunk. They didn't look too good. Sweaty, clammy, intense and loud. I looked over to my close friend who still had his second beer and he grinned at me with a look on his face like, "That would of been you. Keep up the good work!"

But that wouldn't have been me. I wouldn't have stopped drinking like some of them did. Maybe they all slowed down because one of the heaviest drinkers they know was next to them sober. Maybe they can slow down.....

But I wouldn't have, I can't slow down. That's my "small" problem. I'm not addicted. But I just can't slow down...I accelerate through the alcohol and crash right into the wall of inebriation. Make a fool of myself. And wake up to make the rounds of calls.
"Sorry P. It was just a BBQ and I had to go make it something else. I'm sorry about your walls, mirrors, and whatever else I broke in a drunken stupor." "It's ok, Jay. Just chill out with the drinking." That's what I heard last Monday after making a scene at a Sunday BBQ and messing up.

Not this time. This time my friend called me in the morning and congratulated me. :c031:

Thanks for reading! Good luck and God bless!

-Jay

I LOVE my sports even more sober. Yesterday was glorious being able to really watch the games and understand and appreciate the action without being all wasted and focused on my buzz. I'm a season ticket holder for UNC football and basketball and the games were a big trigger for me. Tailgating, sneaking in airplane bottles and flasks. Hell i even brough cocaine and fistfulls of painkillers into the stadiums and arenas before.

but i enjoy it so much more now. I feel even more caught up in the humanity of being in that crowd, and feel just as compelled to stand and cheer, but without the embarrassing outbursts of profanity and nonsense.

Of course, i can't drink and drug anymore for reasons well beyond enjoying my sports. but i found i actually enjoy them more without all that crap, and that is freaking awesome.

Jay:

Congratulations. I'll bet the different perspective was interesting. In my long battle I've been on both sides. Mostly the "wall of inebriation" part.

What's interesting is that football has always been a particularly sensitive trigger for me and this weekend was tough but I made it also. Today day 6 for me.

Keep it up man. Thanks for posting that great story. Helps others on here. Me included.

That's awesome Jay...Good stuff. Probably had a few of those guys thinking hard on the way home about thier own drinking. It's funny how that works. I too watched the games with about 12 people...Most from AA and thier spouses...Really enjoyed the games...food...laughter...And not a drop of alcohol in the house. It's nice figuring out what life is all about.....without drinking. Keep up the good work.

Fantastic!!!! Thanks for sharing.

Awesome J :c011: :c011: :c011:

I always thought that that alcohol and football went hand in hand, but really, it's just the ads that tell you that. I'm a huge giants fan as well as an unrecovered alcoholic I work with. I thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday, with my son by my side. He barely remembers his, and he was so hungover, he couldnt even celebrate the win with me til the afternoon.

I did have a stretch of 4 years sober before I relapsed again, so I had some experience with sports sober. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you miss it, but you also miss alot of nuances of the games. It gets easier with time. Plus, picking up my son in triumph at the end of the giants game was something I never would have done while plastered, and he loved it.

You RAWK!!! So very happy for you!

Proud of you Jay - I know how good it feels. I remember thinking life would be so flat and boring without booze. What was boring was sitting there all numb & in a fog - not enjoying the moment at all. You're doing great Jay!