A few weeks later now newly sober and testing the waters of having a social life we went to a 60th birthday party (not mine I'll hasten to add). Another wonderful Summer's evening and neither of us drinking.
We arrived about 7.30pm just as a group of men and woman who at been at the Races all day and had come to the party as their next venue.
I was sat gazing round the room amazed at how little alcohol some of the guests were drinking if any at all when the Kareoke cranked up. Surprising to say the least at only 8pm.
Then up jumped a lady from the group of race goers. Picture her late 40's, smart dress, beautiful hat, beautiful shoes, beautiful bag and a very large glass of white wine in one had and the mic in the other. She then proceeds to sing 'I will Survive' Gloria Gaynor all the while trying to pull her friends and family onto the empty dance floor.
I sat and watched and could have cried for her. I knew exactly how she felt. I knew she knew she was making a complete eejit of herself, I knew she didn't want to be the centre of attention. I wanted to get up and give her a hug and say it doesn't have to be like this any more.
I saw myself in that woman and I think of her often.
At that moment I knew, I just knew I could never safely take an alcohol drink again.
I call that my defining moment.
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