Sunday, December 28, 2003

 

And there it is, another reformed person saying I am in denial.
I really hate these reformed whatever people who had a personal problem, got better and think I have the same problem and I am in denial because I say I do not have a problem. Drinking alcohol, beer, is the problem. Over the Christmas holiday, I spent some time with some friends. A friend of mine had hip surgery a while ago and I was playing housekeeper until he gets up and around on his own again. He organized a gathering for Christmas with about 20 people over for the day, with some spending the night both before and after Christmas. Some, like me, ended up spending several days. I drank some beer, like I usually do during a day with football on the tube. One other person there, a non-drinker, noticed the number of beer bottles next to my place and commented I seemed to be drinking a lot. Say, what? I think I had 4 empties and it was approaching 4 PM and I had the 1st at noon. In my humble opinion, one 12 ounce beer an hour during football games is not too much and besides, I'm not driving anywhere since I was doing the whole cooking thing for the house for the whole day, except for the fresh white fish someone else cooked out on the grill outside in back. So, the guy says he thinks I have a problem with drinking, and I say I do not, and then he says I am obviously in denial about having a problem. Right... Years ago, I ran through this very same sequence with almost exactly the same dialogue, almost like it was scripted from the last time, word for word. I really hate self-rightous people telling me they know how I should live my life. Some religious people tend to do this same thing, believe in God my way or you will be doomed, doomed, doomed. What you believe or don't believe is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed under the Constitution, but that does not give a person the right to tell me my religion (or any religion or lack thereof) is wrong. This country started over a disagreement about religion after all. So, whether you drink or not is a personal choice and regarding your thoughts on what you perceive are my problems, just because you experienced a problem with drinking does NOT mean I have the same problem you had (or maybe still have for all I know!) and I will thank you to KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELF! Especially if you had 3 DUI's on your record, like this jerk who kept on and on and on about how much I was drinking. Four 12 ounce beers during four hours of slaving over a hot stove... you do the math. I know, not all people are as vocal as this one guy. Maybe he is the exception to the rule. I don't know. I just resented that he accused me of being in denial about my drinking which he perceived as a potential problem. I know several people who used to drink a lot, joined AA and now they don't drink but they never rub it in my face that I do drink beer, not like this guy did. And then, there are the militant animal rights activist vegans who are just as vocal about eating meat and using products made from animals... It may be your right under the Constitution and Bill of Rights to speak your piece, but it is also my right to ignore you and just walk away...

Posted by: Rowlfe - at: 12/28/2003 01:57:00 PM

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