I always drank heavy throughout my military (USMC) and business careers including my home life. I was single until 40 years old and had a 5 or 6 year affair with a young lady in Daytona Beach, Fl that produced a girl and boy. The relationship lasted about six years, she did not drink, in hindsight ,that was a good enough reason for her to split.
I then moved to Tallahasse, Fl and there, met another young lady 20 years my junior, we married, she had three children, 4, 5, and 6. She knew I drank before I married her, so my my drinking was not an immediate problem but she had not seen me at my worst. The marriage lasted twelve years, her first husband had left the state to avoid child support, her children now grown, gave her the opportunity to ask for a divorce.
I immediately agreed, as I had lost interest in not only her, but my business. I made the divorce easy for her, left her the house intact with $200,000.00 in equity and left with $30,000.00 and a VA pension. I realized I was eligible for SSN, they said I was not only eligible but so where my two children. What a godsend, I had an extra $400.00 a month to drink on and no baggage
Now I was 62 years old and my drinking career took off like a rocket. A 40 ounce of liquor every day, before I new it, I was 64 years old walking into the VA clinic in Tallahassee on a regular doctors appointment. My doctor at the time was a flaming red headed lady with a big heart for veteran's. She made a call and I was off to see the psychiatrist. After speaking with me, he made a call and there was an opening for me at the veteran's hospital in Gainesville, Fl to start a recovery program. I had five days before I had to report and of course, I continued to drink until the morning I arrived in Gainesville.
My next blog will describe my first five days in detox.
