>>>>>
>>>>>What else would you expect, we're the foxteam!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Whoops, I didn't mean it surprised me. I have been around the UT and the FoxForum before that for close to 15 years and know there is a real community and real friendships. What I meant was my announcement was about a very personal thing I had tried to keep secret for a long time. So I was a little scared what the reaction might be. I am sure some who have not said anything (and some who have) think less of me now. Well, tough muffins, Mike. I would rather be sober and labelled than drunk and "getting away with it." Alcoholism carries with it a lot more bad juju than just people thinking less of you. Health issues, relationship issues, job issues. Crime issues, as you know, though fortunately that has never happened to me. You don't see a lot of old alcoholics, do you? There's a reason for that -- they don't live long enough. One of the things that got me out of denial was doing some rough guesses and realizing I might not be around to see my daughters marry or have
>>>>children. (Hopefully in that order!)
>>>
>>>My older brother died because he wore his liver out with alcohol and also took a lot of drugs. What a waste of talent. He was a world class blues musician who played with all the big names including SRV, BB King, etc. I'm glad you have decided to seek help. I wish he had done so early enough to let him live past the young age of 42.
>>>
>>>As for what others think, who cares. You've got a responsibility to God, yourself and your family. The others don't matter.
>>>
>>
>>I am sorry to hear about your brother. That's way too soon.
>>
>>My daughters motivate me on a daily basis. The three of us were laughing like idiots in the car the other day about a letter Allie wrote to the Tooth Fairy when she was about 5. (She put it under her pillow, where the Tooth Fairy would be sure to find it, and I still have it around here somewhere). I don't have the whole thing committed to memory but this is pretty close:
>>
>>"Dear Tooth Fairy,
>>
>>This is Allie. I have not heard of you in a while. I hope you are good. You owe me money. I lost one tooth in Chicago and one in Wisconsin. Please put the $10 under my pillow, I'll find it. Thank you.
>>
>>Allie Beane"
>>
>>Now how could I let her down?
>
>$5 a tooth!? Back then!? My kids get a sovereign (should be a silver sixpence - 2.5P - but that won't buy you squat)


That rate was at the end of her baby teeth falling out. I think it started at a dollar or maybe even 50 cents. She once explained to Emily, who I believe was the one to break the $5 barrier, that you get more if they're pulled out. (Which many of them were; she has beautiful teeth now but for a while it was a logjam of baby teeth on their way out, apparently competing for sea lanes).

Rereading the previous messages I know Allie had to be older than 5 when she wrote that letter to the tooth fairy. More like 7 or 8.