The Road

Living with a person who has not overcome their addiction is like taking a drive on a long country road. When things are good, you can feel the breeze on your face and smell the sweet air.  Everything looks so green and fresh. You're going at a steady speed. The sun is shinning and warm.  The road is open before you, straight into a future that is getting clearer and clearer on the horizon.  And then, BAM! another car comes flying out from a side street and hits you broadside.  You go spinning and whirling. Your head bumps around and the once beautiful road is now a blur until you come to a crashing stop in a ditch.  You sit for awhile, making sure you're okay, that nothing but your heart is really broken.  Slowly, you inch yourself out of the car as you notice that same headache starting in the middle of your temples.  You lean against the car as your mind recovers from the shock of the hit.  Slowly, you look around and notice where once there was sunshine dark clouds are forming on the horizon.  All that is left of the car that hit you is the grey smoke from it's exhaust as it zooms away down the road. You take a deep breath knowing what is coming. You go to the trunk of the car,  and pull out a good pair of walking shoes and a raincoat and begin the journey on foot.  More tiring that way.  Longer.  But, you have learned that just sitting around wondering and worrying never helped.  So, now you're walking on the road, as it gets darker and a cooler breeze takes over.  Fortunately, way in the distance, on the side of the road you can see the light of a telephone booth. It's comforting that warm, golden light in the growing darkness.  You keep that in your focus as you trudge ahead, knowing that once you get there, you'll be able to call for help. 

That is what living with an alcoholic is like for me. 

Why do the have to sell alcohol on Sundays, too?