But best of luck anyway. Eleven years for me. Funny thing Teb, I quit drinking and suddenly I had money! Lol! Hang in there, and drive on!

Brother mine

Your last sentence reminded me of what I felt like 13 years ago. Since then I often reflect that was the only thing that I did right in early sobriety. It's tough but if you really want it, you'll get it.

Its a goal. Keep your thoughts on what the end of the day will be like because you don't go for that beer.

Your family needs you,...
We are your distant family here too.

Somebody really close to me had battles with alcohol and I just wanted to give send some encouragement. When overly stressed and/or tired he'd say "you know, I really want to drink right now..... but I'm not.." Anyway, again, just wanted to say you can do it.

Went to rehab for coke in 1990 and have never touched it again. I owe it all to my shrink, a great guy that helped me find the pain I was trying to kill. Had never faced what had happened to me when I wall 11 years old. I had not even thought about it for a long time. It was still there until I dealt with it.

who love you and are pulling for you, TEB. No sympathy, just love.

You have an excellent support system, of both the two and four legged varieties. They want this for you.

Let them help.

of an alcoholic.

You mentioned your boys. I can tell you that I have nothing but respect and admiration for my Dad and the HELL he went through in the early 60's when he started the first AA group in our rural county. Back then, "alcoholism is a disease" was viewed as a lame excuse for moral failure. To most, Dad was not an alcoholic; he was "that damned drunk".

He was shunned by some of his old drinking buddies because they said he thought he was "too good" to get drunk with them. Eventually, some showed up at AA meetings.

I've read my share of "Grapevines" and recall one bit of advice that I read in one over 50 years ago: "When a person gets run over by a train, it is the FIRST car that kills them."
It is all about avoiding that one first drink and "one day at a time".

You can---will---beat this and one day, your boys will measure courage by your example.

(I love you, Dad.)

We should consider that if addiction can be treated that way, by blocking "urges" biochemically, it indicates this is not about character flaws but more brain chemistry and physiology.

You are being very strong! Let us know how you are doing.

Sounds like a sponsor showed up right when you could use one. Sometimes just talking to someone helps me figure stuff out. I think it’s the putting things into words that’s makes things clearer for me.