yeah, it's an eye opening when you start going out sober witha bunch of drinkers. And I think the older you get, the more you repeat the same old stories over and over again (when drunk). Good observations!

So true, dipso. I know when I'm hanging out with my drinking friends - I usually don't stay as long as I would have before - sometimes it's entertainment, but then it just gets old. It only reaffirms that I'm making the right decision to quit. Of course I couldn't possibly have acted as stupid as they do - lol!

Thanks very much, this is a great reminder of what I used to be like for sure.

I know a few weeks back I saw a lady on the beach with a tin hidden in her bag that she was swigging out and I was so glad not to be that person anymore (although mine would have been a bottle of wine!).

Today I am thankful to be sober and thankful to be hear being reminded.

Wow dipso.. Great Post!

The last time I witnessed a bunch of drunks was when Jim & I went with friends to an Astro's game. The entire place reeked of beer.

Me & a friend of mine (also in recovery) commented on it as we never smelled it before when we drank in the past. Being such a HUGE stadium, I was surprised it was so potent!

Regardless of all that, we had a blast and I felt so good that I didn't want to be a part of that drunken crowd. Just not me anymore. It was almost humorous to watch some of them but it ultimately made me feel sick for them.

It was the first baseball game I had gone to sober. What a blessing for me and those around me! LOL!

Oh, My Astros won the game against Jim's Cubs! WhoooooHooooooo!

It is true. Watching others get drunk, while your sober, is really a totally differant experience. I've done it often. I live in a neighbourhood where alcohol and drugs prevail. I can't stand being around drunk people. I listen to the coversations, and they usually have no content whatsoever. Usually swearing, or making insults, or putting someone down. I know I did all this too, and I can understand easily how people disliked me. The only people that can usually like other drunks, are drunks themselves. I love sober drunks, especially in recovery. I find the conversations a lot more interesting. All the best. James

thank u for you post....

yeah, i know what you mean. i've spent some time around people high or drunk during my 3 years of recovery and it's really different to see it from a clean and sober perspective! i would think "wow, wht idiots!" then i would think "wow, that was me not too long ago. how disgusting! i acted like that??!! how wrong!!" i live in a neighborhood like jamesross does. drugs and alcohol everywhere!! lots of people acting stupid. but when i really think about it, the thought "but for the grace of god, there go i" crosses my mind because that was me a pretty short time ago and it gives me compassion and takes away me disgust. i, then try to treat them like human beings instead of people to be loathed. my hubby hates that i'm so nice to them. he thinks they don't deserve it because they've stolen from us before, lied to us, blah, blah. but i don't treat them the way i do for them. i do it for me. i don't feel good when i treat someone bad or look down my nose at them just because they have the same problem i can still have if i'm not careful. i feel good about me when i treat someone the way maybe i would like to be treated by them if they could. i don't know. that's just how i am. my hubby would just rather go around hating them all and holding grudges against them the rest of his life. not me. it hurts me when i nurse those resentments, not the other person or people. he just doesn't seem to understand that.

This is a good post.

I have brothers that get like what you described. When drinking the past becomes inflated, overwhelmingly sentimental, and morbidly sickening. I remember sometimes we literally fought each other over trivial moments in time that I believe none of us accurately remembered. At other times we were lacrymose to the point of making you want to puke. We smelled like a distillery and our conclusions were that somehow we had fun with the lot of it.

Anymore, I really have not hungout with my brothers since getting out of treatment three months ago. Since they are still drinking; we have very little in common other than being siblings.

I try to keep one thing in the forefront concerning this; But for the Grace of God, there go I. Fellows in the program tell me that my addiction is doing push-ups outside while I am writing this post. True -- God is keeping me sober and I thank Him for this. If I get too cocky, overconfident, or draw myself away from recovering persons and working a solid program of recovery -- I will join them once again and die in my addiction. I don't want that tonight so, I think I will hang out with you guys until it is time to go to bed.......

I think it's good for people like us to watch and really pay attention to people who are drunk. It gives us a strong message that we never have to be like that again. I enjoy watching them sometimes, knowing that I will never be one again.

Its odd, I thought Bigbears post odd as I didnt get the context of it - that and I always find it difficult to read posts in capitals.


But reading other peoples posts I think i understand it now.

It is true that but for the grace of god (and ourselves) that we will once again be that person. I really like the idea of the addiction doing push ups - It is always waiting.

Gosh, I've been sober for 15 yrs and I cannot STAND to be around people who drink anymore. It makes me a nervous wreck. Not that I'm afraid I'm going to drink, but it's cause they act like such idiots!!! And YES I did too when I drank ~ maybe that's why I hate it so ~ cause it reminds me of the time.....

I stopped going to the family get togethers 6 years ago. It's sad how our families act under alcohol.

Bigbear has always posted in caps as he has a hard time reading the type unless it's in caps.
NOT YELLING!!!!! :)
Also, what he's saying is, maybe you might just start drinking again if you find those drunks not so cute and may just want to drink again to put up with their stupidity.

AND..I agree with Lee and Mike~I still DO go to the family dys-FUNCTIONS though because that's what my whole family is but they are just constant reminders of how grateful I am that I can leave and will NEVER again, be one of them!!

and i always thought we all all got "cuter" the more we drank :) i have empathy for those who are now recovering and are put in "awkward" situations. it's all attitude. :)


and by pass the "being set up" comment......my best friend was a drunk and druggie.........he met his heart and has been happily married for over 20 years.......sometimes miracles come in whispers that only two can hear.


best wishes and nods.