It has come to my attention that recently someone has been trying to use my identity to turn this blog in a direction that would never be my intent. This person believes that alcoholism can be cured by using some kind of voodoo-ish doctor to solve your problems. Let me tell you, if you have an alcoholic in your life there is no magic fix by any magic doctor anywhere on planet earth. I, however, cannot speak out the outlying planets in our solar system.
ALL COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG ARE MONITORED BY ME AND APPROVED
BY ME BEFORE BECOMING PUBLIC. I do not allow comments recommending any kind of
magic hocus pocus. I also do not allow unsolicited plugs for rehab centers or
organizations. If you see a comment with any such information – it is because I
researched it and approved it.
Now that I realize that people are still coming here and
reading what has been written, it’s time for me to make this blog lively again.
While filled with unpleasant information, there is humor here and there. Sometimes
it’s hard to see. When you are up to your ass in alcoholism madness, it’s hard
to see anything that may remotely resemble something laughable. Let me assure
you that you will have difficultly retaining your sanity if you don’t stop and
see the comedy that surrounds you.
If you have been coming here, you probably know my history
so I won’t go into all that. If you don’t know, then I suggest you get my book “Immortal
Alcoholic’s Wife” and the sequel “The Life of Riley” which are both available
on Amazon.
On November 17, 2017, my life took a turn. That’s the day
Riley died and opened the door to the possibility of having a life of my own.
The day after Riley’s death, I woke up at the usual time as
any other day. I went to his room to see if he were still breathing, as usual.
But there was an empty bed. I went to the kitchen to make coffee but skipped
making breakfast. Then I sat on my beautiful front porch, wrapped in a blanket,
and tried to figure out what I was supposed to do next.
It was the start of Fall and it was not so cold as to turn
my nose red. The leaves in the big oak tree in the middle of my front yard were
gently falling to the ground. The dog was chasing squirrels and the cat was lying by my
side carefully flicking his tail to the rhythm of the rocking chair rails. He
was being careful not to have his tail under the rail as it came down where his
tail had been.
I was anxious. I knew there was something I was supposed to
do. I just didn’t know what it was. Nothing came to my mind. It was Saturday,
so anything relating to business would have to wait for Monday. There was
laundry to do; Riley’s things to pack up; family to contact; but I continued
with rocking away my morning and being unsure of what my role in life was to be
now.
It took me a while to decide what to do with my life. I floundered
from one thing to another. I talked to friends and family. I had an idea of
what I wanted, but was just not sure of how to go about it.
I wanted a life. I mean a real life that belonged only to
me. I wanted to make decisions based on my wants and desires. I wanted friends
that I could meet for dinner and wouldn’t raise an eyebrow when I ordered a
glass of wine. I wanted a social life. And I wanted to discover who I was
outside the confines of an alcoholic world.
It took me two years to decide where I wanted to be and how
I was going to accomplish getting what I want. It took two years to decide to
find out WHO this person named Linda really is.
What you will find in this blog is my journey from the
darkness of alcoholism to deciding to be happy. Anyone mentioned in this blog
will have an alias to protect the guilty – and OK – the innocent. I didn’t get
to where I am today without the help of some very important people. Some
contributed favorably and others – well – not so much.
I hope you enjoy reading about my newest adventures and
misadventures. I hope you laugh and cry. But most of all I hope you understand
that there IS life after.