Ha! Oh man, I can't wait to get to this shit. SOON.

I was joking about safaris and how they should try not to be eaten by a lion.

I was wondering about that, because I thought that Indian mothers were traditionally eaten by tigers.

My mother's mother would look stricken and say, in martyred tones, "You do want you want, but I may not be here when you get back."

Yay, no smoking smonster! Could it be that you should cut yourself some slack while trying to kick one of the most addictive substances on earth?

Sean, Sean, Sean. You've done such amazing things in the last year. Do not let your stupid brain fool you.

Dang. You guys, my brother called me this morning and told me he is going into rehab ASAP. He woke up this morning and was so sick that he just decided this is it. He's never said "I'm an alcoholic" before, but he did this morning. He's quitting his job at the brewery, and my SiL is looking into rehab places right now.

It's been obvious for a *long* time (10 years? 15?) that he drinks too much. And we've all been concerned. But short of an intervention, you can't make someone else get help. So it's enormous that he's getting help.

I'm just completely gobsmacked. I didn't see it coming. Or, I should say, I didn't see everything coming all at once, on a Monday morning. I remember our dad saying that he knew he (Dad) had a "drinking problem" but that he wasn't ready to quit and wasn't planning to. And then eventually he did. My granddad was a liter-of-whiskey-a-night alcoholic for 50 years, and finally quit because his doctor told him he'd be dead in 6 months if he didn't.

So I'm used to these thing happening gradually -- admit you have a problem, but keep drinking for a while, admit you need help, keep drinking, THEN get help. For my brother to compress it all into one morning is...a lot to take in.

And I obviously know that it being a lot for me to take in is NOTHING compared to what he's dealing with right now.

I'm really proud of him. Unbelievably so. And I hope it works. And I feel like I got punched in the stomach. Literally, physically, my stomach hurts.

Oh Steph, much love to all of you. I'm glad he's getting help.

Wow, Steph. I can't help but wonder if your deep conversation with him recently was a help in his decision.

Wow, Steph. I can't help but wonder if your deep conversation with him recently was a help in his decision.

I was wondering that, too. I got off the phone this morning, and after I stopped sobbing (in the garage at work -- stay classy, Lang), I thought, "Shit, I broke my brother! My parents are going to kill me!"

When I talked to him Thursday night, I told him he could deal with all his shit; I just didn't know he'd jump on the fast track. That *is* awesome. But very overwhelming.

The very best to your brother, Steph. He probably drank more over most weekends, and Mondays had been getting worse for some time. The realization that drinking is getting in the way of work is a fairly classic bottom. (Shut up. That's what they call it in AA.) It sound pretty hopeful, Steph, because that is often a "high bottom," (Shut up.) which can make for a better recovery, unless the person starts thinking, "I wasn't so bad." I don't know if you ever had anything to do with Al-anon, but it was a big help to my mom.

I hope your brother gets the help he needs, Steph.

When I talked to him Thursday night, I told him he could deal with all his shit; I just didn't know he'd jump on the fast track. That *is* awesome. But very overwhelming.

You're a good sister.

I don't know if you ever had anything to do with Al-anon, but it was a big help to my mom.

I went to Al-Anon for a little while about 10 years ago, maybe a little more (I come from a long line of alcoholics, on both sides), and it helped me, as much as therapy did, to get some perspective and start setting boundaries, etc. (because even alcoholics who no longer drink can still be problematic -- stopping the booze doesn't stop all the problems).

I may well go back in the near future.

My mother and I used to say we could make money selling "Sober is not enough" buttons at Al-anon. Hmmm. Making buttons is easy these days....

I thought your SiL might benefit too, particularly now when she needs to hear she's not alone.