Today, being Tuesday 17 March 2026 has absolutely no significance whatsoever. Unless, that is, I am right and that my youngest son, Edward, has not in fact just decided to take a day's holiday from work; but has in fact lost his job. He will be 31 this year. I hope I am not right.
Whatever the truth of the matter, I may as well tell the somewhat ghastly story which precedes. But first I must explain that I genuinely love the boy with all my heart. I've seen his personality grow and show all the wit and charm of his grandfather (my Dad), the cunning strategies used to avoid reprimand when he has done something naughty (which whilst crimes themselves, can somehow be admired) and sadly, the truly horrible, ghastly persona which reveals itself when he is drunk.
Only 9 days ago the boy got so drunk that I felt compelled to call the emergency services (and not for the first time). He had drunk (to the knowledge of my wife and I) a full bottle of cheap whisky on that Saturday afternoon: and that in the space of two hours maximum. He had lost control of some of his faculties and, although his eyes were open he appeared completely unable to communicate with, or understand, us. It was a frightening and surreal moment. As on the last occasion when I called 999 for the lad (a good 6 months ago), the operatives were gentle, helpful and kind. They, of course, reminded me that the emergency health services are not designed to be used for this particular reason, but that - given our (self and the memsahib) age and the circumstances - they completely understood why I had called: seems I did the right thing doing the wrong thing.
So this has been going on for nearly a decade now; and it's tedious, difficult for anyone outside our family to comprehend: even more difficult for them to sympathise. Like them, I figured love, help and discipline - not to mention the horror of his own experience of 9 days ago (and previously) - would see the boy back in the real world. I was wrong. I'm disappointed in myself. My friends know, but really there is little they can do:I 'm not even certain that they understand the full implications for Maria (my wife), 'WJ' (our eldest son) and I: the very reason I have 'put pen to paper'.
But I miscalculated the damaging effects of alcohol. (And I don't think my boy is a 'traditional' alcoholic (i.e.fully dependant on alcohol), but one who has learned to drink copious amounts in a single day - up to 2 bottles vodka in less than half a day in fact - but then abstain for a week.) And yet the outcomes are almost certainly the same with all those for whom it becomes a poison:-
- They learn to lie: and they lie convincingly.
- They can be extremely contrite, when sober again, but that is not a cure.
- They have to want to recover: and sometimes (as with my son) this is not quite enough.