11:38 am
For real! And, considering the fact that I’ve been doing the family thing AND dealing with my brother and his cuckoo bird of a girlfriend…I feel pretty strong!
BRING IT!
Actually, what I think it is — and I don’t want to knock abstinence, because I’m closer than EVER to believing in it — is that I caved, tried my drinking shoes on again (and again), and they were so very, horribly uncomfortable. In fact, I couldn’t even walk in them. So, now that I’ve found that out, I can move forward, knowing that the cravings will lead to no good.
I am, however, the type of personality that needs to see for myself. Experiment. I’m curious, a scientist. I don’t think that falling off the wagon oh, six or seven times in the past 90 days is necessary for everyone to succeed at abstinence.
Anyhoo, I’m here, seeing family and feeling pretty solid. My favorite aunt is in town, and she surprised us by being at my grandma’s when my dad and I popped over for a visit yesterday! AWESOME. She’s just one of those aunts who was always cool, young, hip, a friend. NORMAL. (My brothers and I needed normal back in the day.) She’d come over and give us kids massive hugs (her 5-foot, 100-pound frame doing little to belie her huge heart) when we were growing up within a very dysfunctional household. She and her sister don’t really get along with my dad, and my step-mom doesn’t really get along with either of them, and my dad has never really gotten over his own mother leaving them when they were kids and committing suicide… And now, my brother has basically condoned his girlfriend’s hate-mail to me the other day (more on that later, re: making amends and what you do when someone responds viciously to your attempt at that), and he and his girlfriend hate my father, but everyone, it seems, ranges from extreme dislike to extreme disappointment at my brother’s choice of partner…
Like I said, I’m feeling strong! LOL All I can do is make my way, remain standing tall, smile, and continue to express myself such that everyone knows that I care, I’m still doin’ my thing, and once I leave Breederville again, I’ll neither hate nor look back. I’ll just love. Everyone. For everything they gave me. Even all the dysfunctional, bad stuff.
Off the box. Must write/work now, get some sort of cardio in (ugh, feels like my heart is beating out of my chest from lack of exercise), and then off on another awkward lunch with my dad. Do I bring up his depression (we’re pretty sure he is an actual case of bipolar disorder), and his choices/future, what he’s doing about it? Ugh. I don’t know. It’d be SO much easier to just let it go, just be there for him. Yet…I feel like that would be letting it sit, fester. I don’t know.
At least the farm is peaceful and calm.
Drunky Drunk Girl 
Congrats on day 7! Something about the week mark is very excellent…like, the booze is probably outta your system, the head is a little more clear, etc. You sound like you’re doing really well and getting past the “experimentation” phase and into acceptance. What you said reminded me of something I’m learning in AA, about how you have to get to acceptance before sobriety actually sticks. Some people need to keep testing it out, drinking, seeing if it works until they know it simply does not. Sounds like you are there. Good luck with the family stuff, and good job keeping your mind in the right place. You definitely can’t do anything about your brother, his gf, or even your Dad, but good for you for trying/being loving and thoughtful with them, no matter how difficult.
Yes, I have trouble — a lot of trouble, actually — caring and fretting about others. I can’t solve anyone’s problems, and I’m pretty sure that they don’t think they got ’em and def don’t want me to care. Anyway, yes the 7-day mark is a great feeling. Anyway, will blog more soon. How are you? Hope AA is going well…
I stayed sober too. Yeah! Hey, I love the post. Dashing out the door, but wanted you to know I read it today. xox lisa
Thanks, Lisa! Love that I’ve got your support…
You’re doing great!
Thanks! I drank beers again the other night, but not a big deal (the most I could do was two at a time!). I think being sober is a choice, one that fortunately, I get to make! I definitely like not being drunk better. Anyway, have to get to blogging again! Hope you’re doing great. xx
Thanks, girl. I think about you all the time, and really hope you’re doing well with all the new ventures (running, paleo, sobriety!). We got this! 🙂