As one who comes from a long line of saloon keepers and alcoholics, I understand this. If your story reaches one other person struggling with addiction, maybe they'll find the hope they need to start the journey. I'm excited to know that you're still writing. A friend told me about this venue and I promptly subscribed and gifted a subscription to her in gratitude. I remember your first reading at Auntie's years ago.Your whole family was there for support and you were charmingly irreverent. We never missed a reading after that. I've given your "True Diary" to my nephews and kids I've worked with. Thank you for writing it! And thank you for sharing your gift with countless stories and poems. Finding you again is like welcoming a long lost kid.
Thank you! No where has such a beautiful illustration been written of the potential for disaster on ingesting that "innocent" alcohol - free drink. I have tried many times to portray this picture to sponsees! I am sorry for your experience but grateful for your share! We have a disease! It plays with our mind as you magnificently described! I will share in hopes of sparing another the same torture!🙏
Am finally getting to the bottom of the 400+ stack of mail that greeted me after a 4-day weekend! I think I read this while on the trip, but didn't comment. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this. I have friends who, like you, drink non-alcoholic drinks. I had toyed with the idea of the hoppy water, and am soooooooo grateful to know that it's a good thing I didn't get it to share. I very much appreciate how much of yourself you are willing to share with us. It must make you feel extremely vulnerable, and yet at the same time, empowering. You, sir, set a high bar for the rest of us ;-)
Thank you for the honest and well-written reflection. I celebrate the sober-curious movement that I am seeing friends join. Social drinking/pressure is indeed everywhere. It gets easier with time to take a hard pass, but for someone used to but not addicted to alcohol, it's been a journey to make the switch even for myself. Thanks again.
Thank you for this. I cannot count the number of times I’ve explained to non-alcoholics why I read labels & refuse to drink “non-alcoholic beer.” One time, early on, I caught myself going back to the fridge & taking a swig out of a soy sauce bottle. About the 4th trip, it struck me: “Something’s wrong with this picture.” Read the label: the first of 4 ingredients listed was alcohol. My impulse was to take another swig. Instead I poured it out—the grace of a loving HP—& shaking, called a woman who was helping me stay sober. My sobriety is too precious to me to risk it on some “near-beer.” Thanks again!
Holy guacamole. Just your description gave me a rush. 22 years sober and your account of tasting one sip of hops with trace amounts of alcohol-- intense how it all comes back. I even use alcohol-free vanilla in cooking.
I just can’t put myself in mortal danger. There are tons of supposed non-alcoholic drinks that try to lure the lost customer base back to the cash register. My tongue and my nose are always disappointed and it’s the breaking up with liquor all over again, trying to get to safety and community with sobriety. My young niece used a phrase when she was first talking: “ I can’t want to…” concerning naps. I get that.
My dad was an alcoholic…he didn't stop drinking until cirrhosis of the liver made him so violently ill he couldn't. Two days before his death, he begged my mom for a beer…he hadn't eaten in days, weeks, who knows?! She poured the beer Into a cup with a straw and let him have a sip. She said he only had a sip and through strained breath thanked her profusely. That was the last thing he consumed before his death. I think sometimes addiction is tattooed on one's soul and I applaud everyone who goes through the pain of its removal. 💕
As one who comes from a long line of saloon keepers and alcoholics, I understand this. If your story reaches one other person struggling with addiction, maybe they'll find the hope they need to start the journey. I'm excited to know that you're still writing. A friend told me about this venue and I promptly subscribed and gifted a subscription to her in gratitude. I remember your first reading at Auntie's years ago.Your whole family was there for support and you were charmingly irreverent. We never missed a reading after that. I've given your "True Diary" to my nephews and kids I've worked with. Thank you for writing it! And thank you for sharing your gift with countless stories and poems. Finding you again is like welcoming a long lost kid.
Thank you! No where has such a beautiful illustration been written of the potential for disaster on ingesting that "innocent" alcohol - free drink. I have tried many times to portray this picture to sponsees! I am sorry for your experience but grateful for your share! We have a disease! It plays with our mind as you magnificently described! I will share in hopes of sparing another the same torture!🙏
Am finally getting to the bottom of the 400+ stack of mail that greeted me after a 4-day weekend! I think I read this while on the trip, but didn't comment. Thank you so much for writing and sharing this. I have friends who, like you, drink non-alcoholic drinks. I had toyed with the idea of the hoppy water, and am soooooooo grateful to know that it's a good thing I didn't get it to share. I very much appreciate how much of yourself you are willing to share with us. It must make you feel extremely vulnerable, and yet at the same time, empowering. You, sir, set a high bar for the rest of us ;-)
Thank you for the honest and well-written reflection. I celebrate the sober-curious movement that I am seeing friends join. Social drinking/pressure is indeed everywhere. It gets easier with time to take a hard pass, but for someone used to but not addicted to alcohol, it's been a journey to make the switch even for myself. Thanks again.
Congratulations to everyone fighting to remain sober
The reason they’re called non-alcoholic beers is that they’re not for alcoholics. ;-) 18 years in August for me. High five, Sherman.
Your experience rings true for me.
Thank you for this. I cannot count the number of times I’ve explained to non-alcoholics why I read labels & refuse to drink “non-alcoholic beer.” One time, early on, I caught myself going back to the fridge & taking a swig out of a soy sauce bottle. About the 4th trip, it struck me: “Something’s wrong with this picture.” Read the label: the first of 4 ingredients listed was alcohol. My impulse was to take another swig. Instead I poured it out—the grace of a loving HP—& shaking, called a woman who was helping me stay sober. My sobriety is too precious to me to risk it on some “near-beer.” Thanks again!
So many addictions. Marijuana, digital crack, shopping, eating, gambling. We are an addictive prone species it seems
Holy guacamole. Just your description gave me a rush. 22 years sober and your account of tasting one sip of hops with trace amounts of alcohol-- intense how it all comes back. I even use alcohol-free vanilla in cooking.
Yep, we must be on guard!
I just can’t put myself in mortal danger. There are tons of supposed non-alcoholic drinks that try to lure the lost customer base back to the cash register. My tongue and my nose are always disappointed and it’s the breaking up with liquor all over again, trying to get to safety and community with sobriety. My young niece used a phrase when she was first talking: “ I can’t want to…” concerning naps. I get that.
" I can't want to..." is such an accurate description.
This is my podcast on addiction - my sobriety journey and tactics I use to stay sober.
https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/EQZhJDNgXJb
Congratulations on your continued sobriety. May God give you the strength to continue. 🙏🏼
Thanks. Deborah.
This is really powerful. I am not an alcoholic, so I am grateful to understand your experience. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you, Molly.
What Molly said is exactly what I want to say to you, Sherman "I am grateful to understand your experience." I am indeed —thank you.
Thank you.
My dad was an alcoholic…he didn't stop drinking until cirrhosis of the liver made him so violently ill he couldn't. Two days before his death, he begged my mom for a beer…he hadn't eaten in days, weeks, who knows?! She poured the beer Into a cup with a straw and let him have a sip. She said he only had a sip and through strained breath thanked her profusely. That was the last thing he consumed before his death. I think sometimes addiction is tattooed on one's soul and I applaud everyone who goes through the pain of its removal. 💕
Oh, wow. Damn. I can't imagine the pain of that experience. Damn.
Great piece, good on you for having the will power to push it aside. Grateful that you shared this, it’s more useful than you may know. 🙏🏼
Thank you, Ilan.