Now that Genius is gainfully employed, living the dream in KC and commuting to Kansas every day...we barely hear from him. Once or twice, he's called me on his drive home, just to chat. Like Friday evening. According to Genius, he calls me every Friday on his way home. I suggested that he check his phone records.
"Uh. Try once or twice. I'm not mad or anything. You have your own life. But it's NOT every Friday! Check your call record. You'll see. How did you like your Halloween package."
"I liked it."
"Did you win anything on your scratchers?"
"I think. Friend and I cashed in about $50 worth last week, but I think only $30 of it got won on the tickets you sent for Halloween."
"It all went straight to alcohol, didn't it?"
"Actually...it DID! We were getting kind of low in our bar."
"I was going to ask you about that. Because the last time you called me, and were in a hurry to get me off the phone so you could 'go buy liquor,' I thought, 'NO WAY! That kid always has liquor in his apartment! He has a freakin' BAR!'"
"Oh. I think Friend and I were having people over for dinner that night, and I needed to get something for drinks."
"At the time, you told me that Friend was halfway across the country for work, and you were mad because you left your Chinese leftovers lunch at work, having gone out to eat, and now wanting those leftovers for your supper!"
"Huh. Yeah. That's right..."
"I remember thinking at the time, surely you had some kind of alcohol in the apartment. Even if it was just a garbage bag of prison hooch marinating under the sink. You could jab a straw in it and drink some!"
"Heh, heh! Talking about bags...you know how people get the bag wine for parties, in the box? Well, the way my friends do it is to throw away the box, and just walk around with the bag on a stick. And then people walk up and drink the wine right out of the bag."
"Like on a hobo stick, slung over your shoulder?"
"No. More like on a staff. Nobody wants to carry around a bag of wine at a party."
"I guess not."
And thus concluded Genius's words of wisdom for serving party alcohol. He should know. He's still counting on his college liver. Not that I would term him a sot. But he does enjoy his alcohol.
My son was in grad. school. Grad. students drank tons of alcohol, self medicating. Over the years he realized he had a problem and joined AA.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Genius' status is. Hope I didn't offend you all.
No offense taken. I tease him about his "college liver" all the time, now that he's on his "working liver."
DeleteGenius is a jolly drunk, and had a blast at one of the casinos we went to last Christmas, which had a special event with an OPEN BAR for two hours. When it comes to spending his own money on drinks, he doesn't have such a good time, because he likes money more than alcohol.
If he's still "enjoying" it so much in five years, I'll think it's a problem. Or if it affects his work.
Didn't need AA, thought I had a problem what with getting hammered every night, turns out it was mostly a function of the second wife. If she didn't go back to her old boyfriend I would probably not be here. One year after Mrs. C and I quit smoking and seldom drink anything more than a glass or two of wine when we go out...not even a famous NJ dirty water cocktail.
ReplyDeleteI certainly "enjoyed" my alcohol in college, and when I first married Hick.
DeleteAfter a (non)memorable night at a Cardinals' game, where Hick had work tickets for us and another couple, in the area with free drinks...I decided to put the kibosh on spirits. The very next day! When my friend called and said, "I'm sick as a dog. Do you think it was something we ate?"
Both of my sons like their alcohol. A little too much for my liking, but they're old enough to be making their own life choices, so I zip my mouth.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Genius is employed, paying his own way, and seems to be responsible. As in having a designated driver, or using Uber. So I figure it's his life, and if he thought he had a problem, he'd be hiding hiding such activities from me, not joking along.
DeleteMy son-in-law & Blake used to have wine with dinner every night & then they both just stopped. Blake's girlfriend has a glass when we're out to dinner & I usually join her, but not Blake. Matt doesn't drink at all, either. Bud drank until he was 21 & then stopped!!
ReplyDeleteYeah. I just stopped. I don't care if anyone else imbibes. I'm not Carrie Nation! If I decide that I want a drink, I'll have one. I was wavering during CasinoPalooza 2, under pressure from Genius and Sis and Hick, but decided against it. If I do succumb to peer pressure, it's not going to become a regular habit every weekend like long ago.
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