I had a friend who just died. They found him dead in his apartment,
just him and his dog (who I have now adopted). I never knew the toll
that drinking had taken on his life. After his death, his mother (who
discovered his body three days after he had died) revealed that he had
never been able to hold a job because of his problem.

I had only been friends with him during high school (over 30 years
ago), but had re-established contact with him three years ago. He
still had a teenagers zest and attitude for drinking, which bothered
me a bit, but I had never really seen him very drunk and our telephone
conversations led me to believe that he only "partied" one night a
week. I would sometimes mail me big bottles of Jack Daniels and I
finally had to ask him to quit.

His death certificate listed end stage liver disease with cirrhosis
and chronic alcoholism as contributing causes of death. He had bled
out through his intestines such that the hazardous materials crew had
to come in and clean up (to the tune of $5000) and it was declared a
crime scene pending the autopsy results. His body was so disfigured
and ugly because of the circumstances of his death that he had a
closed casket funeral.

Last year, a lifelong family friend of my wife's with mental illness
and drug problems shot himself. He was practically psychotic but self
medicating. And I have had other friends who suffered fatal overdoses
in the past few years. I think some of them just let themselves die.

I have another close relative who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and
has untreated hepatitis C, knows that drinking is not good for it, yet
persists without trying to quit or cut down. I watch this go on
before my very eyes and I die right along with her.

On the bright side, my son has been sober for over two years. I wish
I could say that for the rest of my family.

My hat is off to those people who have struggled with these problems
and try to be sober.

"Philosopher" <hammerfan@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a0mtsvsu6ku3447ba046vnearulaflf28c@4ax.com...
>
> My hat is off to those people who have struggled with these problems
> and try to be sober.
>

"Try to be sober"?
Jeez, have you ever taken your classic *enabling* "philosophy" to Al-Anon
http://www.ola-is.org/ and been shown your role in your dramas.

Bob

[On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:55:48 -0600, Philosopher
<hammerfan@hotmail.com> wrote:]

> I had a friend who just died. They found him dead in his apartment,
> just him and his dog (who I have now adopted).

<snip>

Take good care of the dog. That is all you can do.

We drunks do kill ourselves. You can't blame youself for that. But
you can take good care of the dog.

[On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:55:48 -0600, Philosopher
<hammerfan@hotmail.com> wrote:]

> just him and his dog (who I have now adopted).

In addition to regular walking, I find that things like regular
brushings are good. The dog likes it, and so do I. It is
therapeutic for both of us.

I took him to the vet yesterday. He pissed on the floor. He does
not like going to the vet.

He has a cyst which may need to be removed, and he needs his teeth
to be cleaned. The vet gave me an estimate of $300 for doing both.


You go into that. If I am caring for someone else, I do better than
if am all by myself. That is when I drink the most.

Take good care of that dog.

> My hat is off to those people who have struggled with these
problems
> and try to be sober.
>

recovery from alcoholism can be a real "tough road", you are
correct!
give your son a congrats hug from me!

In article <k68usvc0hbhv1v1gbcpjaogvgmbl19s3sg@4ax.com>, The Other
Harry <hc.me@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> [On Thu, 04 Dec 2003 00:55:48 -0600, Philosopher
> <hammerfan@hotmail.com> wrote:]
>
> > just him and his dog (who I have now adopted).
>
> In addition to regular walking, I find that things like regular
> brushings are good. The dog likes it, and so do I. It is
> therapeutic for both of us.
>
> I took him to the vet yesterday. He pissed on the floor. He does
> not like going to the vet.
>
> He has a cyst which may need to be removed, and he needs his teeth
> to be cleaned. The vet gave me an estimate of $300 for doing both.
>
>
> You go into that. If I am caring for someone else, I do better than
> if am all by myself. That is when I drink the most.
>
Larry, I have have seen on TV that they have shrinks for dogs now,
maybe your dog would benefit from one about the peeing from fear of the
vet's office. Just a thought, Mike
> Take good care of that dog.

>Take good care of the dog. That is all you can do.

You might want to consider k9anon. The support and recovery group for dogs
living with alcoholics.
MHS

"MHS" <mhs@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20031205105208.15365.00000212@mb-m03.aol.com...
> >Take good care of the dog. That is all you can do.
>
> You might want to consider k9anon. The support and recovery group for dogs
> living with alcoholics.
> MHS
>
>

Ala-pet

"rosie read and post" <readandpost@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:6TFzb.116395$M02.46619@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>
>
> > My hat is off to those people who have struggled with these
> problems
> > and try to be sober.
> >
>
> recovery from alcoholism can be a real "tough road", you are
> correct!
> give your son a congrats hug from me!
>
>

Hell, Just give him a hug.... period.

> Hell, Just give him a hug.... period.
>
>