Couldn't help but resurrect this thread this evening. So much has changed in my life since Dec 16th, 2017.
My father passed away back in October of 2018. If there were any doubts that I struggled with alcoholism, that week removed them all. Several weeks later I finally surrendered and got the help I urgently needed. I Just celebrated 10 months of sobriety last week, and was the guest speaker at a meeting in Staten Island, NY last Tuesday where I shared my story. My father is part of my story. My alcoholism impacted my ability to spend quality time with him those last several months of his life. Home is 10 hours away, and I just couldn't put the bottle down long enough to be a loving son. I chose alcohol over spending time with my dying father. I no longer carry that guilt and shame around with me today, for it's not what he would've wanted. But it took me several months in my sobriety to finally drop that rock I'd been carrying around with me for a long while.
Then... My wife lost her job after 28 years of loyal service back in May of this year. Thankfully, despite being drunk most of the time - I still managed to stash away quite a nice sum of money over the past several years for a "rainy day." Between that and the separation package they gave her, I'm thankful that we're somehow gonna eke out the next two years before she's eligible to draw her pension. We've got no complaints. We're healthy, our kids are healthy and happy. And we're spending a lot of our days these days volunteering and helping others, so we don't have a lot of time to worry and fret about life's ups and downs.
A close friend of mine who battled cancer a few years back remains cancer-free and continues to get to do what he loves for a living, and then gets to spend his weekends with his granddaughter. We've talked about catching a football game or two on the big screen while devouring a pizza this upcoming season. I look forward to that, and I'm just so thankful that he's in great health.
My babygirl moved 3500 miles away and now lives in Vancouver, WA. She's been with her company for a year now, and called me last week to tell me that she was rewarded for her efforts with a 20% merit salary increase. Of course, she's still on my family cellphone plan. LOL.. but she's coming home for Christmas and I can't wait to see her.
My son finally moved out of the house and lives across town with three high school friends. He's been at his new job for a year now and absolutely loves it. He drops by every other weekend to have dinner with me and mom. I'm so proud of my kids. They really are my life, even though I don't get to spend much time with them these days.
And Bandit - we finally got your brother Duke a brother. His name is Simba, and despite being with us since February - he's still pissing and crapping all over the place. But you know he'll never replace you. Ever. I walked down into the basement last week and saw the first chew toy we ever got you when you were just a little pup. It still has your teeth marks in it. And I still see occasionally notice a hair or two from your brown fur laying in the corner of your favorite place you used to sleep. You're still with us in our memories, old friend. Duke still misses you, too. I occasionally say, "Where's Bandit?" and he hops off the couch and runs to the door, thinking you're outside waiting for him. He's getting up there in age, too. I hope we get to keep him another couple of years at least before you get to play with him again.
But we miss you. You were a great, great friend to us. I found this pic of you and Todd back when we first brought you home, that first night Todd wanted you to sleep with him in his bed. Hope you're chasing rabbits and eating hotdogs in doggy heaven.