Originally Published: December 18th, 2024

---

---

2025

---

A man who has positively impacted my life is my husband, Michael.

Love, trust, connection, commitment, loyalty, kindness, adventure, an unconventional approach to life, and creative genius… these are but a few of the words to describe the types of foundational bricks he brings to our marriage.

We are two imperfect people who are perfect for each other as we stick together in the tough times and grow stronger because of it.

We’re individuals whose hearts make one.

S, ❤️

---

---

---

2024

---

A man who has positively impacted my life is the man who negatively impacted my life.

My biological father is an alcoholic.

He modelled the progressive and devastating nature of alcoholism.

I do not know a lot about him because my mother divorced him as a result of his drinking and infidelities. I was 6 years old.

My father remarried, had another child, while accumulating almost two decades of sobriety.

Then, he started drinking. He lost everything, again.

Now, he lives in an assisted living home, has a type of dementia and no longer drinks – but not by choice.

His sister, my aunt, keeps myself and my sister in the loop about him.

For years, I refused to call myself an alcoholic, out of shame because of the stigma and I did not want to be like my biological father.

Now, after decades of struggles with alcoholism, I accept I am an alcoholic and truly understand the nature of this deadly affliction. I have too much to lose if I drink alcohol and am willing to do the suggested work in a 12-Step program to stay sober.

Sadly, my biological father is a mystery to me and his life a tragedy as a result of his once active alcoholism.

Alcoholism, is cunning, baffling and powerful.

This is a disease that tells me I do not have a disease; that yes – I can just have one drink.

My biological father is a reminder for me that no, I cannot have just one drink.

Ever.

Update – My father died this past September 18th, 2025 from cancer.

My sister and I discovered that, before admitted into assisted living, he was addicted to cocaine. While in his first assisted living location, he had to wear a tracking ankle bracelet because he kept trying to sneak out to go to the liquor store.

His life, his story is a sad one.

S, 🌻

---

---

---