>>>First, you would be wrong in your 'doubts.' Tamar is more knowledgeable about Mike's illness than any of us. She has put forth the time and energy to try to get him to get real help on a regular basis.
>>>Second, it is not the alcoholism itself, but what makes some people turn to alcohol and become addicts that is the source of the real pain.
>>>Third, regardless of your opinions and feelings about alcohol, alcoholism, and alcoholics, it is beyond the pale to attempt to diminish the efforts others put forward to help those in need or to publicly dismiss those who are suffering from it.
>>>
>>>Dealing with alcoholics is inconvenient, embarrassing, exhausting, frustrating, sometimes dangerous, and always a nuisance. Not everyone is suited to the job, and not anyone who is personally close to the individual should attempt it. They are destructive to everyone and everything around them. I won't do it. I have my own personal history with alcoholics and I walk away from it and have no tolerance for it. Yet, there are those who are healers by nature and try to help those suffering in any way to get the help they need out of purely altruistic reasons. Tamar is one of those people.
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>>If he actually went through with it, I think it's time to think about the REAL victims here: his children. Specifically the one that finds him. I'm not commenting any further on this because it could get ugly fast.
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>Yes. Now that I am sobered up, that is the thing that horrifies me the most. What an unspeakably selfish act. It would not have happened if I had not been drunk but that's not a good enough excuse. Not close to good enough.
>
>I start my new work gig out of state next Monday and won't be on here much, if at all. It's just as well, isn't it?

Mike, I'm glad you're OK. That didn't come through in my post. I've had friends who've had parents commit suicide, and it messes them up beyond belief.