I live in a state where the general population of its citizens think nothing of drinking to excess well into old age. When I think about it, they're damn lucky they've made it to old age at all.
The culture, with its glorious hop headed past(think Milwaukee, LaCrosse), revels in partying. I graduated from one of the top ten partying universities in the nation. I think the year I graduated we were #1. The Packers, your birthday, that zit finally being gone, funerals or any rough day after work can all be considered "just" catalysts to imbibe.
Habitual boozing always reminds me of a billboard in a small northern town where two factories employ the general population:"Life begigns with a bottle- Don't let it end with one".
I live in a town where the local paper prints the police log and county court cases. It is not unusual to find people being charged with their fourth or fifth, and once in a blue moon sixth and seventh OWI's. My dad, a Bud Man until the day he dies contests that locking these people up is not the answer.
I beg to differ.
How can habitual drunken drivers be left to their own judgement? they can't. EVER. Take for example the tragedy that befell an innocent soul just the night before last.
In the evening, a local Sheriff's Deputy noticed a truck driving with no headlamps and maneuvering erractically. He turned on his lights and pursued the vehicle that cruised right through two stop signs at fairly busy intersections before slamming into the passenger side of a van, killing the 34 year old driver. This took a mere 16 seconds from the moment the cop saw the truck.
The passenger in the van, along with the drunken driver and her passenger survived.
It turns out the 26 year old drunken driver had three previous OWI's and other charges involving cocaine. Her court case for these previous charges is scheduled for December 28. Oh, and P. Period. Fucking. S. ...they found a small amount of cocaine in her vehicle.
This girl will be the shining example to others like her. She is looking at 55years maximum based soley on these new charges.
I'm not a tea-totaler. There were numerous times when I was single and a little crazed and I DID drive when I definitely should not have. With a sweet two year as my ward now, how could I possibly EVER consider driving under the influence? I can't. No way, no how.
I can remember my parents driving home from my grandparents on the holidays(we lived about an hour and a half away) completely wasted in the seventies. It was just so accepted then. I would bawl and BEG my gradmother to let me stay. My parents taught me what not to do when you have a child of your own by their thoughtless actions.
I may talk like an ass and say I want to catch a buzz or get loaded, but the fact is, I've grown up. Not everyone does. If I'm not a good example for Snowflake, what chance does he have? Sometimes I think we're better off moving away.
What is the answer? As anyone with an addict in the family will tell you, each one has to hit their own bottom. How can we continue to support this "Culture of the Drink" while innocent people die everyday because of it?
6 comments:
Not to be disrespectful OR hypocritical, I'm going to have a drink now.
Can I get an A-MEN? And as sad as it is, sometimes "near death" isn't even rock bottom. It is so hard not to judge, but I guess I'll never understand because I am not an addict. No not me, I'm OCD instead. Antibacterial scrubbing any one?
Anniem, want to come over and clean my house? Please? ;)
MsMama, this was a serious post about a very serious subject. I loves me a glass of wine many an evening, but I sure as heck wouldn't drive drunk. As you said, I've done it a time or two in my very stupid past, but never far, and never totally wasted.
We recently had a neighbor taken away for DUI (as it's called here) and a hit and run (thankfully not a person, just an empty car she hit), and it's wild. I mean, we live in a little condo complex, and I've spoken to this woman so many times...she often seemed a bit drunk to me, but I never knew she DROVE that way. Turns out, she has 7 DUIs, plus a few identities, shoplifting, etc. What a crazy way to waste your life. And sadly, sometimes, someone else's life as well. Very soboring.
I have mixed emotions about the laws and punishment for drinking and driving. I consider myself vey lucky to have never had a DUI.
I remember the 70's when just about everybody on the road was drinking and driving. It was normal everyday living around here in coastal NC.
I remember puking my guts out in at least 2 police cars while being taken in for speeding over 100 mph, failure to stop for blue light and siren, reckless driving etc. I was drunk as a coot, but I luckily never hurt anyone, and they didn't charge me with DWI as it was called back then?
Now if you drink a couple of beers and get pulled over and blow a .08 on the breathalyser you're a criminal? That just makes no sense to me. There's just too many damn laws.
Hell...next thing you know they are going to make me take a damn cholestrol test and tell me my damn arteries are to clogged up to drive safely! Where does all this shit end?
And don't even get me started on the seatbelt laws.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
Oh...almost forgot?
The name of your post "Just One more"....that's the actual name of the redneck bar right up the street from my house.
Here's their ad on a Biker Hangout site.
Just One More, Castle Hayne
About:
Supremo juxebox, can bring in your own food, pool tables are level, folks are friendly, and you can bring in your dog if they're not too busy.
I found it here
http://www.bikernet.com/hangouts/statehangout.asp?State=NC
Shit! I can remember when we'd go on road trips in the 70's and in certain states you could drink beer in the car, while driving. Sorry for the preachiness. My Great Aunt(now dead) hit a seveteen year old boy and killed him driving drunk. She went to a women's prison for a few years(she also dirty danced with The Godfather @ my cousin's wedding). It happens everyday. I wish it could stop. It may be the cheapest form of self medication for an ailing society. I don't know...
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