I never drank booze from a paper bag out on the streets. I was never homeless and I never pan handled. I never drank first thing in the morning, in fact, I only drank after 5PM. I drank craft beer and wine, I was a sophisticated drinker. But no matter how I justified it, I was your run of the mill, average drunk. I drank to get drunk almost everyday. I couldn’t have just one, it was all or nothing.
For the longest time I refused to call myself an alcoholic because I didn’t do all those things an “alcoholic” does. I was only fooling myself because I was doing the ONE THING an alcoholic does.
My name is Dan, and I’m an alcoholic. Take a good look because we are everywhere. We are teachers, students, lawyers, judges, doctors, moms, dads, brothers and sisters.
You thought you were a sophisticated drinker.… You still got that addict still deep down inside you still……its when u realize ur no better off then that bum drinkin outta a paper bag. And life sucks sophisticated or not…
That is so true. I met quite a few homeless folks and found that there isn’t much difference between us and I also realized that a lot of us are really only one stupid decision away from becoming homeless. It’s that stigma that is so dangerous.
Thanks Dan. Very good post. They/we are all around like walking deads. I too drank wine and stole my husbands quality whiskey whenever i could, but finally i didnt care what was numbing me as long as it had alcohol in it. Ive never thought id be better than those paper bag drinkers. Actually my oldest friend recently told me that starting from my youth the hardcore boozers always came to talk to me and i talked back. It still happens. Waiting for train or at grocery queue they always catch me. Well drunkard knows another i say. I see a human underneath the outlooks& addiction. But actually i have a weird thought, that they are angels whispering wisdoms at me
Thank you for this post. I went to an AA meeting and got the side eye for not having hit the bottoms others have. My drinking pattern is still insane even if I’ve made it work. It’s still cancer causing, blackout causing, relationship ruining, life ruining. Even if you’re successful.
Great share Dan.
Like you it took me a while to figure out that the wino on the park bench wasn’t me. but could have been if I hadn’t made that right turn at the crossroad.
Yes, the difference between us is only the air we breathe. We are them and they are us but somewhere along the line, we likely had more resources (however defined), support and hope and there but for the grace of God go we.
The only thing different for me was that I didn’t drink to get drunk (or at least not conciously). I wasn’t the goal. But I just didn’t know how to stop. Once I had that first drink I was drinking until I fell asleep.
… You still got that addict still deep down inside you still…
…its when u realize ur no better off then that bum drinkin outta a paper bag. And life sucks sophisticated or not…
- that must make us friends!
But with different picture 
