My Dad

My dad is an everyday hero.

He's important to alot of people. Let me tell you about him.

When I was growing up, my dad was an alcoholic. As the years went by, his disease got progressively worse. He was a functioning alcoholic, which meant he was able to keep a job. He was self employed, so at least he didn't have a boss to answer to. He also managed to make me a hot lunch everyday. Which I enjoyed while he had his "barley sandwich".
As my teenage years hit, I began to loathe him. He said stupid things, ridiculed my mom, was mean to my brother. I was embarassed of him. It sounds foreign to me now to be saying that, but I was.
I didn't have predictability growing up, I never knew how he would act. My mom coped by joining in the drinking on weekends. So weekends were a little crazy at my house.

I escaped when I was 19. I got married and moved away. I was then able to control how much I saw him, and how long to stay when I did visit.

Eight years ago, my mom called me from work. She said,"your dad needs you, how fast can you get home?" She thought he was going to kill himself. So did I.

Not knowing what I would find, I raced to his side.

He sat on the sofa, completely broken and defeated.

He sobbed and said."I need help"

I told him I would help him. I packed his bag, and took him to the hospital. I walked up to the desk and said, "this is my dad, he is an alcoholic. He's asked me for help and now I'm asking you for help"

He stayed for 3 weeks. As a family we had an intervention. I told him that I knew he asked me for help because he knew I would hold him accountable. And that I meant it when I told him that now that I've seen the wonderful man beneath the booze, I would accept nothing less. That if he wanted to start drinking again I, for one would not watch, nor would my kids.

He has not drank since. He attended AA in a nearby town for years. Then he decided he would start a club in his town. There was a need, and he was now strong enough to start helping others.

Whenever I'm visiting, and a member of his AA gang comes over, either they've had relapse, or they think they might, he's right there. He talks to them for awhile, or they go for a ride and spend time together. He's helped so many people.

I am proud of who he's become and I know the only way for him to have gotten there was to live his life exactly as it was. There can be no regrets, no resentment. Just admiration for battles won.

Dad, you will likely never read this, but I love you and I am proud of you.

Happy Father's Day!