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Sunday, February 7, 2010
Everyone's Friends With Alcohol
Nothing brings people together quite like alcohol does. It's magical stuff, really. I've never seen people so willing to unite and put aside their differences unless raising a glass together.
I never had as many friends as I did when I was 21. I was going out at least four nights a week with pretty diverse cast of characters and having just a splendid time. Frequenting dives and Fourth Avenue was such a novelty at that age and there was no better amusement. I was also a pretty slick bartender in that time, if I do say so myself, and I made a lot of money doing it. God how I miss that money.
Alcoholics have a real soft spot for bartenders. Knowing how to mix a stiff drink will win you instant popularity points with virtually everyone, I learned.
And then, drinking got old for me. Really old. I realized my love affair with alcohol was over spring break of 2008. I was out with the usual suspects at one of our old favorite drinking holes, with the intent to get drunk and act a fool, per usual. With my first taste of beer that night, I had a single moment's clarity. I realized I had no desire to drink anymore, much less get wasted. I hate being drunk. I hate the dull, mindless people at bars, who for whatever reason all look like the same person to me. I hate alcohol. I hate the bad music scene at bars (thanks again, hipsters for ruining everything). I hate hangovers. I hate drunk people. I hate the wasted time.
So, I promptly went home and contentedly stayed in for the rest of break.
Since then, I even tried forcing myself to enjoy drinking again, but to no avail. While my closest friends were experiencing a similar phenomenon as my own, the rest and larger part of my circle didn't stop. They still go out several nights a week, getting wasted, doing the same old shenanigans they've always done. People like their routines. It's comforting for them.
My taste for drinking has left me, and I don't miss it. It's funny how many people will stop calling once you tell them you you're not a big drinker anymore.
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2 comments (+add yours?)
I totally understand what your are saying. It was like as soon as I decided that I needed to focus on school and get my priorities straight, I lost about 75% of my college friends. It is unfortunate to realize that the people that you thought were your close friends were actually using you as a drinking buddy. I find it almost impossible to find a friend to go see a movie with on a Friday or Saturday night. They are all out at the bars. The interesting part though, is that most of them dropped out of school and found a crummy job that supports their drinking habit and doesn't leave them much else after bills are paid. I am happy that you were able to break away from partying and get on track. It takes a lot of will power especially when most of your friends are continuing to drink. Way to go!
I have to say kudos to being able to drink when you do and don’t want to. I think its unfortunate when too often people seem to have the need to drink just because their friends are doing it too or whatever the reason.
And you should be thankful that something crazier didn’t happen to prove that your drinking habit may have been a bit over the top. For instance my mom told me that she stopped doing the crazy drinking partying when her and her live in boyfriend at the time woke up the next morning, neither of them could remember anything. They couldn’t find the keys to their truck that was parking in the front lawn with both doors wide open. The front door of the house and everything. The worst part she told me is that neither of them, try as they might could not remember who in the hell had driven the 20 miles home on the freeway. After that she never pulled that kind of a stunt again.. or so she tells me haha but I don’t ask of course I just leave it at that cause I know that would scare the hell out of me.
And lastly I’m not too sure about the alcoholics having soft spots for bartenders… not that I know from direct experience, but my roommate who claims she is one, supposedly, can be quite critical of them. Which I don’t know if that therefore makes her not an alcoholic haha and then again maybe she’s the exception, but honestly who really knows cause all that AA crap I’ve read seems like a bunch of bull.
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