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Booze is a part of our culture (for better or worse).... It's often a blessing, often a curse. LEARNING how to manage it is something some learn, some don't.
My parents are wine drinkers. They are have a rather extensive wine collection. Wine is a part of most (although not all) dinners - at least the important ones. They rarely drink wine apart from a meal, although occasionally in the evening with cheese.
As kids, we grew up with this. I don't remember how old I was, but at important meals (Thanksgiving, for example) I would be poured some wine - usually a light, a bit sweet white; always at the hand of my father and always of very limited volume. I liked it. As we grew, the amount grew.... and the day came when we could serve ourselves, always with no fanfare - it just happened.
I remember that day for me as if it was yesterday. It was Thanksgiving Day of 2000, and I was 12 (a couple of mouths short of 13). We had company. The full meal. At some early point, Dad simply looked to me and said "you may have wine, if you like" in a subtle way of saying I too (as the youngest) could serve myself. So I did. I was mature enough to handle this (as my older sibs were at about that age) BUT I didn't act accordingly. I remember - SO WELL - how it just snuck up on me. All of a sudden, I was DRUNK. I mean.... room spinning DRUNK. I wanted to leave the table but wasn't sure I could walk without revealing my immaturity. People talked to me and I kept my replies SHORT because I was aware I was having one _____ of a time speaking. My bother totally got it - and was winking at me, suggesting I eat. But I THOUGHT no one else noticed..... I thought I pulled it off. Years later, my mother told me she and Dad totally noticed.... and hoped I was learning something. More than anything, I remember feeling very, very embarrassed - and STUPID and disappointed in myself. For some years, I was uber careful.
ONE other time, it was worse. About four years later, now a Junior in college (long story, I was ahead of things age wise), I was invited to a party at a friends apartment. This time, it was just beer - but a lot of it. And I was totally drunk.... I mean someone had to take me home drunk, I missed school the next day drunk, SICK drunk, had to walk forever to go get my car the next day drunk. I NEVER did that again. Lesson learned..... Boy, was it learned....
Today, I've aware of my body. I know what the LEGAL definition of "drunk" is in terms of driving, etc. And that's pretty reasonable. I know when "the buzz" is kicking in... and when I've moving beyond that. One of the things this has done for me is (in this way, too) made me more like my parents - focused on the quality rather than the biochemistry; a nice glass of GOOD wine (or whatever) - and that's where it's kept.
What's YOUR story? Your feelings?
- Josiah
My parents are wine drinkers. They are have a rather extensive wine collection. Wine is a part of most (although not all) dinners - at least the important ones. They rarely drink wine apart from a meal, although occasionally in the evening with cheese.
As kids, we grew up with this. I don't remember how old I was, but at important meals (Thanksgiving, for example) I would be poured some wine - usually a light, a bit sweet white; always at the hand of my father and always of very limited volume. I liked it. As we grew, the amount grew.... and the day came when we could serve ourselves, always with no fanfare - it just happened.
I remember that day for me as if it was yesterday. It was Thanksgiving Day of 2000, and I was 12 (a couple of mouths short of 13). We had company. The full meal. At some early point, Dad simply looked to me and said "you may have wine, if you like" in a subtle way of saying I too (as the youngest) could serve myself. So I did. I was mature enough to handle this (as my older sibs were at about that age) BUT I didn't act accordingly. I remember - SO WELL - how it just snuck up on me. All of a sudden, I was DRUNK. I mean.... room spinning DRUNK. I wanted to leave the table but wasn't sure I could walk without revealing my immaturity. People talked to me and I kept my replies SHORT because I was aware I was having one _____ of a time speaking. My bother totally got it - and was winking at me, suggesting I eat. But I THOUGHT no one else noticed..... I thought I pulled it off. Years later, my mother told me she and Dad totally noticed.... and hoped I was learning something. More than anything, I remember feeling very, very embarrassed - and STUPID and disappointed in myself. For some years, I was uber careful.
ONE other time, it was worse. About four years later, now a Junior in college (long story, I was ahead of things age wise), I was invited to a party at a friends apartment. This time, it was just beer - but a lot of it. And I was totally drunk.... I mean someone had to take me home drunk, I missed school the next day drunk, SICK drunk, had to walk forever to go get my car the next day drunk. I NEVER did that again. Lesson learned..... Boy, was it learned....
Today, I've aware of my body. I know what the LEGAL definition of "drunk" is in terms of driving, etc. And that's pretty reasonable. I know when "the buzz" is kicking in... and when I've moving beyond that. One of the things this has done for me is (in this way, too) made me more like my parents - focused on the quality rather than the biochemistry; a nice glass of GOOD wine (or whatever) - and that's where it's kept.
What's YOUR story? Your feelings?
- Josiah
