The weekend before last, we had our annual get together for the 4th. Celebrating our freedoms the usual way, fireworks, beer and brotz.
Beer, as in "non-alcoholic beer." You see, it was a sobriety party. One friend celebrated one year of sobriety, the other one is at two years now, The other at five years, and the rest of us were in solidarity with them.
I've known these guys for many decades, and we all partied like rock stars back in our 20s. But it catches up to you eventually. You can't keep up the wild life forever, as much as you think you can. It was fun then, and I don't regret it, well, as least not that much (I did some stupid drunk crap when I was a kid that I certainly do regret now), but there's no way I could live like that now. For one reason or another, more and more of my friends are giving up alcohol, whether it is for health reasons, or in one case, he simply had no choice- it was literally, quit drinking or die. And over the years I've seen more than one friend pay the ultimate price when their addiction caught up to them. While most of us "Slow down" as far as the partying goes, as we get older, some of my friends did the opposite- they sped up! Partying harder in their 30s and 40s than they did in their early 20's- and crashed and burned as a result.
I feel lucky that I can still have the occasional glass of wine or beer, but I've dialed it way back, and of course when I'm around my non-drinking friends, I will always abstain as well, to support them.
So we had a fun, sober 4th. The fireworks were awesome, the brotz were filling, and it was still a good time, just like the old days. But no hangovers, no fear of "Getting pulled over" or having to hitch a ride home, just good old times with the bro's. And to those out there who are batting their addiction, one day at a time, know that you have my respect and support.
So that's all I got. Although it's two weeks late, happy 4th!