According to my family benchmarks I failed to secure many mileposts.?ÿ But even in my early years I marched to the sound of my own distant drum.?ÿ It caused some distance between us early on, but the years have solidified those bonds.?ÿ This solidarity has also been maintained due to the fact that a lot of them are dead.?ÿ In my mind that's the easiest way to win an argument with a family member...out live 'em!?ÿ
One honor in particular that I failed to wear was the "Knee Walking Drunk" merit badge.?ÿ Others in the clan excelled in that area so any attempt to succeed in that area seemed moot.
My older brother still holds the title belt, something he kept hidden from our parents for years.?ÿ I remember in 1999 taking my 80 year old mother to breakfast.?ÿ Through my loose-lipped sister my mother had found out my brother was a long standing member of AA.?ÿ She sharply asked me, "Is your brother a drunk?"
Having been able to avoid for years a conversation I needed no part of I was cornered.?ÿ In my infinite honesty I replied, "Yep".?ÿ?ÿShe huffed and asked, "since when"?
I had to think for a minute.?ÿ At my best guess I told my mother the last time I saw him sober was graduation night 1964.?ÿ Then she told me she couldn't believe I never told her.?ÿ I laughed and told her that somehow I knew she was going to make it my fault.?ÿ But so much for common family dysfunction.
Yes I failed at being a drunk, but believe me I did try.
The first New Years I remember when my main objective was 'getting sloshed' was '66 or '67.?ÿ There was a big party I needed to attend and my buddy's older sister was taking advance order for the liquor store.?ÿ I gave her all the money I could and told her I wanted a "bottle of whiskey".?ÿ She came through with a bottle of some rot-gut called "Ten High".
I don't remember much past 10 PM.?ÿ I do remember the laughter and what a good time everybody at the party was having in the back yard washing me down with a garden hose.?ÿ I'm glad I was the life of their party.?ÿ Needless to say the aftermath was tough.?ÿ I decided right then that would never happen again.?ÿ 53 years later the smell of whisky still makes me violently gag.?ÿ
So I'd like to thank the Hiram Walker & Co. for helping me fail one of my most assuredly ordained destiny.?ÿ I can thank them for each and every New Year's celebration I've thoroughly enjoyed since then.?ÿ Thank you gents, you all were a Godsend.?ÿ 😉
Happy New Years you all!
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Houston, TX---December 31, 1985 witnessing Willie Nelson perform from about 250 feet away.?ÿ It was a very classy act.?ÿ The grand finale ended precisely as the clock hit midnight.?ÿ Sober as a judge.?ÿ Me.?ÿ Not necessarily Willie.
One year later---driving from the far southeastern part of the megalopolis known as Houston to the far northwestern part starting about 12:30 a.m.?ÿ 80 cop cars and me.?ÿ Sober as a judge.?ÿ Me.?ÿ Not necessarily all of the cops.?ÿ Made it without getting pulled over.
There isn't any particular New Years Eve that sticks in my mind. That's probably NOT a good thing to admit.
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I don't think I've had any really remarkable NYEs. I remember one shortly after college visiting a former dorm roommate.?ÿ Riding across his town in his Chevy Nova with a heater that barely made a difference from the -25F outside, I got a case of shivvers while fully dressed in layers and wearing my parka.?ÿ We went with his future wife and one of her friends to hear some music somewhere.
For the Y2K non-event we were at a friend's house drinking a toast in glasses that had 2000 worked into the stem.?ÿ He gave us the glasses, and tonight wife and I had a drink of sparkling wine (California's version of Champagne) from those glasses.
The wine was a gift from someone who thought I had done them a big favor.?ÿ I hope it really was one. He doesn't know me well enough to know that I usually don't drink alcohol.?ÿ I had two sips and felt it hit my head.?ÿ Took a few more as we watched a documentary but didn't finish the glass.?ÿ Still a little off kilter, maybe why I'm rambling about trivia.
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