My mother had a brother whose name was robert that was killed many years ago.She never told me how he died and this was a secret til she died but why i believe because of my uncle roberts untimely death...my mother became an alcoholic.She used to drink secretly.But then my father died in 1987 and it got to be too much.My mother would drink and I mean drink at 10 0 clock in the morning.She would be smashed when I got home from work..but why do people who drink like she did refuse to go for help? I tried to get help for my mother.Noone knows the pain she was in.I went to a priest and he told me and my brother to mind my own business.The priest went on to say that when people retire...they get bored and drinking is a way to deal with the pain of not being wanted.I believe that retirement shold be planned and people dont plan vacation either.My mother would be drunk and I mean drunk for months at a time.She refused to get help and i had to take over all of the responbile of the house.Mother stopped paying the bills.She would go to Atlantic CIty every day.And she would lose and I mean lose...she was always broke.The casinos in seattle are far away and the buses only run on saturday.They on ly stay in the casino for 4 hours and there isnt no boardwalk like Atlantic City.Theres nothing.It is on the reservation.I do miss going and playing the one arm bandits.I do miss it.But i cant gamble my life away.Brad has been dead for 6 months and it is a loneliness that is just so miserable.But I refuse to turn to alcohol> I hate to drink.I have to look for a part time job and the jobs here are not so good......but I am running the house and taking care of the cats and writing columns and I am trying to understand why a normal woman like mother turned to alcohol.She has been gone for 6 years now.We parted very bitter enemies.She just couldnt accept the fact that I was different and liked different things then she did.Being drunk isnt ladylike at all.It is very embarassing.Noone knows how her behaviour got me into the darnerst sitaturions.If youhave a problem...please talk it out.Drinking and gambling wont make it go away.