Stephen King says he doesn’t remember writing “Cujo.” It’s a forgettable tale, with the antagonist being a Saint Bernard dog who is bitten by a bat that has rabies. Animals with rabies aren’t usually active enough to trap people in cars and that sort of thing, and the movie was worse than the book.
King freely admits he was drunk most of the time he wrote “Cujo.”
Writers and alcohol. I swear.
Once upon a time, I had enough alcohol in my system to be legally dead. But the Army bred substance abuse and sometimes I wonder if it was intentional.
I was down to a six pack a week, but I was drinking 9.5% IPAs. And I would drink the six pack all in one day, usually in a few hours. The next day I would check social media and my phone to make certain I didn’t day or write anything that would piss anyone off. I never did, of course, but the thing that bothered me is I did write things I didn’t remember sometimes.
None of this had anything to do with a rabid Saint Bernard.
The day after my birthday, I took an empty six pack to the trash can, tossed it in, and stopped drinking. That was the 10th of November. The 10th of December made an entire month.
I started drinking at age 13. By high school I had a serious problem. I would pass out in class or out in the grassy area where we ate lunch, or in my car. The 1970s were a time where hard drinking was a rite of passage, and even though many teachers thought my liquid state was a terrible thing, no one said anything to me about it. Ever.
Part of the reason was they were afraid to fail me out of a grade in school because that meant I would return the next year. I think their plan was to just get me to graduation, and then I would no longer be their problem. The Army put up with drinking by sending soldiers to AA. AA kicked me out because I steadfastly refused to admit I had a problem.
I evolved from drinking every day to drinking only once a week, over the course of the years. But I was still getting so hammered I couldn’t write and sometimes forgot what I had done the night before.
I’ve flirted with this for a while. There isn’t a real reason to drink except I always have, and for most of my life, hard drinking was a sign of manhood and strength.
The younger crowd has it right again. Those people born after Y2K do not feel compelled to pick up a self-destructive habit.
And it’s time for me to step away from a habit that has never really proved anything to anyone, except I am a product of my culture. I’ve never felt like I was that kind of person. Now, finally, maybe, I am not.
Take Care,
Mike
My oldest friend has been sober for 25 years. But she was drowning in the bottle for years before that. I never stopped caring about her, although I did keep my distance during that time. Eventually she met someone who was steadfastly sober and wasn’t willing to risk falling off the wagon. That changed everything for my friend.
Last night she told me that she was sorry for all the times she hurt me with her drinking. I was telling the truth when I told her: you only hurt yourself. At 60+, we are not the same people we were 40 years ago.
We were teenagers and young adults when we parted company. We were in our 40s when she came back. It’s like we were never apart. It’s like that with some people.
I hope you have at least one friend who loves you either way and will prop you up when you need it.
Bev, I do. We talk every day. This isn’t a story about the terrible things I’ve done and how I intend to repair them, but rather steady evolution, I hope. I hope your friend stays dry. And I hope I do, too. It’s a change for the better.
Alcoholism is like any other addiction; you must WANT to overcome it before you cando anything else. Looks like from your post that you wanted to and did. Congratulations and hang in there…
Emmette, thirty days and counting. I beginning to feel differently about this whole journey. It seems longer not because I want to drink, but it now feels like being sober is how things should have been all along, if that makes sense.
Nice. Please do not go back. You are doing this not just for yourself, but for so many others.
WW, thank you. I think the world is a better place with me sober.
Mike, I am glad you are on the wagon and hope you can stay there. Most or all of us are here for you.
Since insulin and alcohol don’t mix well, I never drank–to excess or anything.
I did meet some people while in college that several thought were alcoholics. I lost touch with those folks, so I am not sure if they stayed in college or not, or how their lives turned out.
As for Cujo: like most times, the book was better than the movie. For the movie, they could not use a St. Bernard because they are too nice, so they used a German Shepherd dressed up to look like a St. Bernard.
Tim, the older I get the more things I have to watch to make sure I stay healthy. Alcohol doesn’t help and the diabetic gene haunts my family. Cutting alcohol out cuts out the worst risk factor.
The diabetic gene is a fickle SOB.
I have it, my brother has it (he started as type 2 and became type 1), then it was a cousin of our Mom and our Dad’s grandmothers.
Love this!!
Kris,
Thank you. I’m fairly happy with it myself.
I never had a drinking problem, just the occasional pint with a meal, but I was a heavy smoker for over sixty years.
Until 14th November, 2017, when I gave it up. I didn’t try to cut down, I just decided to stop. And despite have friends who smoke, often in my presence, I’ve not had one since.
I’ve heard a lot of people say it is impossible to give up drinking or smoking, but there are a few of us who have proved otherwise.
And even if yours was just smoking and not drinking, it is still a success story because of the challenge you overcame
I’ll toss in agreement on what Mike said. Stopping smoking is a monster big deal of breaking an addiction.
I used to smoke and drink. I quit smoking cold turkey December 1st 2016. I haven’t touched a cigarette since and haven’t been tempted. Once I decided to, I just stopped. I’m very stubborn, bodes well for kicking bad habits but not for maintaining good relationships I suppose. As for drinking, I used to do that to excess as well. I don’t do that anymore either. However, I can have the occasional beer and stop at one or two. I know people who can’t. They won’t stop until they pass out. I’ve never been that way. I will have a beer or two here and there, but I don’t know when the last time I had one was. I can’t say I don’t drink at all, I just don’t drink at all the way I used to.
I commend you for giving it up. I know it’s difficult and I wish you continued success. It is much more healthy. I’m sure you’ll feel much better both physically and mentally.