October 17

October 17 – AM          Page 178-179, Doctor Bob’s Nightmare, Part I

My wife became deeply interested and it was her interest that sustained mine, though I at no time sensed that it might be an answer to my liquor problem.  How my wife kept her faith and courage during all those years, I’ll never know, but she did.  If she had not, I know I would have been dead a long time ago.  For some reason, we alcoholics seem to have the gift of picking out the world’s finest women.  Why they should be subjected to the tortures we inflict upon them, I cannot explain.
About this time a lady called up my wife one Saturday afternoon, saying she wanted me to come over that evening to meet a friend of hers who might help me.  It was the day before Mother’s Day and I had come home plastered, carrying a big potted plant which I set down on the table and forthwith went upstairs and passed out.  The next day she called again.  Wishing to be polite, though I felt very badly, I said, “Let’s make the call,” and extracted from my wife a promise that we would not stay over fifteen minutes.

October 17 – PM          Page 131, The Family Afterward, Chapter 9

Drinking isolates most homes from the outside world.  Father may have laid aside for years all normal activities—clubs, civic duties, sports.  When he renews interest in such things, a feeling of jealousy may arise.  The family may feel they hold a mortgage on dad, so big that no equity should be left for outsiders.  Instead of developing new channels of activity for themselves, mother and children demand that he stay home and make up the deficiency.
At the very beginning, the couple ought to frankly face the fact that each will have to yield here and there if the family is going to play an effective part in the new life.  Father will necessarily spend much time with other alcoholics, but this activity should be balanced.  New acquaintances who know nothing of alcoholism might be made and thoughtful consideration given their needs.  The problems of the community might engage attention.  Though the family has no religious connections, they may wish to make contact with or take membership in a religious body.