me brother father great grandfather - father's mother's side 2 to 4 uncles - father's side uncle - mother's side ex-stepdaughter ex-stepson-in-law#1 ex-stepson-in-law#2 ex-mother-in-law ex-sister-in-law mother-in-law brother-in-law stepsister-in-law one of us in spirit if not intoxication: ex-stepgranddaughter
Lots of blood... lots of non-blood too. We do seem to attract them.
Neither my mother, grandmother(s), my first wife, nor my current wife have ever been drinkers. Good codependents all though, based on where they came from. I guess I've been fortunate in that the women in my life have all been sober - stepdaughter sober a long time now. I never had an intimate relationship with a live alcoholic... probably the only aspect of this disease my life hasn't touched on, and I can do without, thank you. A few wannabes but nothing came of it.
I frequently hear people say that there is no alcoholism in their family. Most people who say this either haven't looked very hard, or are just in denial. I suppose its possible. And those folks would look at my family tree and probably conclude that I am one seriously FU individual that should be avoided at all costs... LOL. I'm actually a pretty normal person today. Eccentric perhaps, but otherwise normal.
What a list Bari!! Me too and then I came to understand that since distilled alcohol predates the life of Christ by 3 or more thousand years we just have to be an altered species by now. They keep making it and others keep drinking it. Just for today I have said No. Thank you is optional. My family tree is also coming apart. The Dam has broken and the elephant has been called what it is...alcoholism. The family is shucking and jiving and trying to make it's way around the elephant and then some of them just keep feeding it. It is what it is. I'm powerless over them also.
I found myself nodding and counting the alcoholics in my family, then I lost count as I was reading Jerry's response, and how long alcohol has been around set me thinking
I remember my first meeting, I bought a big book, and I went home that night and read it....all the way through Dr Bob's Nightmare the first night, and I had to keep turning back to see when the book was written/published, it was me on every page, I har read where I identified with the protagonist, had things in common with the hero, but this was the very first time I read a book written before I was born by -square- white males that wore suits (I was a surfer dude) that was -me- on every page
Helps remind me that "the rules" have also been around for thousands upon thousands of years, and contrary to my most fervent wishes and unending activities otherwise, they probably weren't going to make an exception for me
I found out I wasn't in fact, unique, or even very uncommon
That's been one of the biggest blessings of the program actually, the ability to just be...average....normal....not be better or worse....just...me...and have it be OK
Hard being an actor on a stage all the time, damn critics were killing me
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Another thing I've done triggered by Larry's share was to let my family down to and including my own grandchildren that if the addictive compulsion ever rises and they need to reach out for help I have contact with several thousand recovery people who will step up and show them the way out. I am extreemly grateful for those several thousand recovering family members.
I'm about 75 % Irish, with some Canadian, and Native American thrown in for flavor. Dad's side of the family (all Irish) is a pretty solid group of drunks. Mother has 34 years in our club, her brother, her father and grandfather. Once I took my first drink, I didn't have a chance.
My mother my 45 year old daughter uncle John uncle bob Irish/Italian relatives right off the boat........... and of course me.......................... only my mom in recovery ,,she is 87................. and of course me!!!!
Uncle Joes stomped homemade wine always a topic at Italian Granma's Sunday dinners!(forever after church till dark)Just wanted to play with kids at home on Sunday..... Kids were medicated at age 10-12?,couple glasses of Uncle Joe's and sit on the plastic couch "and don't move'!!!!!
Irish Grams would just "wash the dust out!!! hmmmmmm Heridity,environment,and wonderful teachers!! Thank you dear God ,for becoming the "final" teacher!!!!
-- Edited by mikef on Saturday 5th of February 2011 09:56:33 AM
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
