Sunday, July 11, 2010

Lightening

Last night the heavens opened up and rain poured down in torrents. It was a welcome respite from the oppressive heat.

We were invited to dinner at the house of a couple we met during one of our sailing adventures. They have a sailboat and enjoy going out for several nights at a time as we do.

We had a great dinner with them and their 11 year old son. All was going well with good conversation about a variety of things. We talked about the recent work done on the boat, about their son's math and science prizes, and about how to cook fish on the grill. Nothing heavy, just amiable talk.

Right before we ate, the husband F. received several phone calls. He left the kitchen each time the phone rang in order to have a private conversation. I noticed that his wife was becoming a bit agitated after each call. One time she looked at me and rolled her eyes.

After dinner and before we could help with the dishes, F. said that he had to "go help his brother with his van". It was now 9 PM. He almost ran out the door into pouring rain, thunder and lightening. His wife S. looked dismayed. We felt really awkward. She said that she hoped we would stay until F. came home.

So we sat there with her, helped her boy with his jigsaw puzzle, and eventually watched a movie. About two and a half hours later, just as the movie had ended, the husband came home. He was affable still but now was red faced and smelling strongly of booze.

Now it was getting close to midnight. I could tell that the conversation was getting forced with the wife. She seemed ill at ease. After he made a few crude comments, we said that we had best be getting on the road. So we took our leave and drove home with the rain pouring down.

We didn't say much on the way home. Both of us felt the joy had been sucked out of the evening. The agitation, the embarrassing looks, and the disappointment were all too familiar to us. The lightening had stopped, but I think we both knew it had already struck that family. I absolutely hate the disease of alcoholism.

16 comments:

  1. I absolutely hate the disease of alcoholism too. I hate addiction to drugs. That poor family. You know and C knows what is going on in that family. Darn it!!

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  2. They have a long road ahead of them. We see the signs, having already been there. All we can do is hope and offer a silent prayer they find the solution before everything disintegrates. (Hugs)Indigo

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  3. what a sad way to end the night. addiction and alcoholism are such awful diseases that hurt so much in their path.

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  4. An alcoholic can be so rude and uncaring. Selfish, I believe it's called.
    Been there, done that.

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  5. "Going to help his brother with his van" was a dead giveaway to me. My ex-husband and his brothers always had broken down vehicles that needed repair, usually in the middle of a dinner party, wedding reception, Thanksgiving Dinner.... Those repairs were always aided by booze. We were only married for 5 years but the memories are still strong. I hate the disease of alcoholism, too. Sorry about the drama at the end of the gathering last night; it seemed to me like it started out to be a very pleasant evening.

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  6. I absolutely hate the disease of alcoholism too. Good post, though. Thanks for sharing your day. Being that I believe nothing happens by accident, wouldn't it be nice to see this story move on to a favorable conclusion? I will pray.

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  7. Do I hate the disease alcoholism? Not sure. If I did not have it, I'd not have found SO much more: a way of life like none else I've seen before nor since--and I'm old--grin!

    These stories are painful, and I hear them DAILY. Tuesday I meet a guy just coming out from a Massachusetts jail, back to Naples and a new sobriety. Same old story, walked out from jail, into a bar! Holy Crap!

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  8. Me too. I get these reminders, too, sometimes, of what life used to be like. It makes me simultaneously sad and grateful. I couldn't help but wonder if God had put you there for a reason.

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  9. Oh God, syd, what a touching blog.

    (...they usually are, you are an eloquent writer)

    ;)

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  10. I am so glad that you and C have a different story today.

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  11. Sad story - and so difficult to deal with - and so difficult to know how to handle
    My father was drinking as well - so I know first hand how it feels..

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  12. I hate it too! On vacation I was told about the actions of a certain friend of mine. Her and her husband have really kicked up their drinking in the last year, to the point of complete embarrassment. There just doesn't seem to be enough alcohol for both of them. Before I would have judged and now I just feel sad. Like you said, it sucks the happiness right out of things. Sometimes I wonder if these aren't subtle reminders of how fragile our worlds are, that without discipline it can change in an instant....

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  13. And also, I have to wonder if there is another woman in this picture.

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