I've Made My Choice

Through out our lives we are required to make choices.  Some are easy to make and some are more difficult.  Often the answers are not as simple as A, B, C, or D.  Many times the choices can effect not only our lives but those around us as well.  The positive or negative effects often linger long after we are gone, perhaps reaching from one generation to the next.

It is not often that I share my opinion on "hot" topics.  In fact I don't think I have ever "ranted" in my blog.  If you knew me in "real life", I think you would say that I am a calm person.  I am a peace loving, live and let live gal but yesterday my senses were touched and I felt convicted to share my feelings.

My husband and I were invited to attend a MAJOR sporting event yesterday by one of his work "friends".  We were both very excited (we both are huge football fans).  We had shopped for our team gear.  I had prepared the appropriate game day (tailgating) food. We even purchased a new cooler! LOL

The clue should have been that the party started at 8:00 a.m.  It was cold....really cold!  Being the dumb person I am,  I expected coffee.  No coffee just bourbon, vodka, whiskey, beer, wine, jello shots.......get the picture.  I certainly respect everyones right to choose how they live their lives.  I just got tired of being hit on by every man there and being told by all the women that I was "too up tight".  My husband and I were out of place....way out of place and lets face it trapped.  Finally I got so cold that I had to go to the car to warm up.  My husband joined me and we read the paper and believe it or not I had some knitting in the car.  Yes, I did knit and almost completed a project.  No one missed us and it was nice, warm, and peaceful in our cocoon.

After 7 hours of eating and drinking (Diet Dr. Pepper for me) we made our way to the stadium.  I was really excited and hopeful that my team would pull out a win.  We were delayed while the women took plastic travel size shampoo bottles and filled them with vodka to slip into the stadium.  They hid them in their pants and bras.  The men stuffed flasks of bourbon into their knee high socks.  They all made it through security and were eager to get to the concession stand to purchase bottled water and soft drinks to mix with their "treasures".

The funny thing is my husband and I really enjoyed the game.  Unfortunately our team lost but it was close and exciting.  We yelled and cheered for our team until the last second.  The others in our group slept through most of the game.  They did wake up when the decibel level reached 1.3 from fan noise or when they made one of their numerous trips to the restroom.

My husband and I made a choice many decades ago to obstane from alcohol.  My choice was fueled by my parents and the fact that my grandfather was an alcoholic.  The choices he made meant that my mother and aunt had a horrific childhood.  The effects of which still linger today for both of them.  Fortunately by the time I arrived my grandfather had made the choice to stop drinking and I knew him as a fun man that I loved dearly.  I am even named after him.  You see my grandmother became very ill and was at the point of death.  My grandfather prayed to God and promised if he would allow my grandmother to live he would quit drinking.  She lived and my grandfather kept his promise.

In my professional life I worked with patients who had cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism.  A part of my nursing education was to attend 4 months of AA meetings.  A true eye opening experience.

None of the people that ended up addicted to alcohol started off as alcoholics.  They made a choice.  It only takes one drink to "get the ball rolling" and once it starts it is hard to stop. Don't get me wrong I certainly know that everyone who drinks is not an alcoholic nor will they become one.  The thing that always scared me about starting was the fact that I didn't know if I had that internal button just waiting to be pushed, a personality that was prone to excess or a genetic link that I wasn't even aware of.  It isn't worth the risk for me. I didn't want to have to wonder about driving and hurting someone else for the choices I made.  I never had to wonder if some child would watch me and wondered why I was acting so funny or inappropriate.  I knew that my family and I could have a good time without numbing our feelings just to get through the event.  Maybe it is just that I am "old enough" that I don't really care what others think of my choices,  or maybe  like my daughter says I've just become "feisty" now that I am working.

My husband and I made our choice.  We raised our children in a home that was free of temptation.  We have suffered riticule several times because of our beliefs but that's OK.    I respect others and hopefully they will respect me, but if they don't that's OK too.  I've made my choice and for the record I kind of like the "fiesty" new me!  LOL  Blessings!