OK, I have another friend. When he was about two or three his mother watched in horror as his great grandfather proffered to him a sip of bourbon. Several years later while watching father and friends imbibe and pestering for a taste this friend was given a shot glass full of gin.
Snuck some from time to time till when as a sophomore got a six pack from another friend’s older brother. He downed five in quick succession and companion couldn’t finish the one. Went on to college where the stuff was sanctified. Guess that, honestly, not much happened during the week, but on weekends, well, he doesn’t really remember.
Vagabond years were more Dionysian than Apollonian. Compadres were of a mind and proud to be successors to a storied group known as the “Vulgarians”. Once, late after a revel at the Bar Nationale, one snuck up behind a gendarme and relieved him of his revolver. Fortunately, the genius hadn’t noticed the weapon was tethered around flic neck and lost grip.
Midst career and family this guy only occasionally lost hold and was able to cover tracks and count on short memory and collective norm. No major bruises, breakages, or blackouts.
Problem really developed during shift from original indoctrination and responsibilities toward look at the future. Seemed easiest not to deal, to make excuses, and to cover psyche’s symptoms. Like TS Eliot wrote, “humankind cannot bear very much reality”.
But, then remembered Frost’s “Forgive O Lord my little jokes on thee and I’ll forgive Thy great big joke on me”. And finally, interestingly, Michael Jackson: “If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change”.
Me? I’ve always said that my favorite drink by far is ice water. First thing in the morning and last at night is a huge glass of l’eau glace. Our two ice machines are always empty. I don’t mind when berg in my large tumbler shifts, Adam’s Ale spills, and I look like a drunken idiot.
Plus, know what? Ice water is good for losing weight. In a recent WSJ* were the results of a study that found that: “Drinking cold water causes the body to burn more calories and could be an effective weight loss method…”
Yep, climb into the sack after a tall glass and it’s shivery for a while, but dreams are crystal clear.
*11/1/11
The Subtle Landscape 
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