November 18, 2013

Sobriety; 3 Years

It’s been three years since I got the phone call in a JoAnn Fabrics in MA. 

It changed my life. It changed my husband’s life. It changed our marriage.

It was a call that subconsciously I had been expecting and dreading all at the same time.

It was my husband, in WA, telling me that he had been caught going on duty drunk.

It wasn’t supposed to happen; he was in Rehab.

Yet it did.

There were a lot of emotions, from both of us, that day three years ago.

I can picture it perfectly in my mind.

The shock, the disbelief, the fear, the betrayal.

It was followed by tears that I couldn’t stop as I walked around the fall wreaths on display. 

The Man hit bottom.

His bottom.

It was his choice, to keep drinking or to stop.

After that, he stopped.

I think it was the realization that he could lose everything.

His career, his house, his wife, and possibly his life, in this world and the next.

The month that followed was tough for both of us in different ways.

He went to daily AA meetings and was confined to the boat for 30 days.

I drove cross country with a close friend and was alone for the month of December.

His 30 days were up on Dec. 24.

He was able to come home.

That was the best gift I got that year.

A sober husband.

I’ve had one ever since.

It hasn’t been easy, staying sober for three years.  Some days are easier than others.  The Man’s alcoholism is a very real part of our life together.  We talk about it openly.  Munchkin will know that her daddy is an alcoholic.  It’s not something we forget or ignore.

He takes it one day at a time.

We take it one day at a time.

Many Waters Sobriety

24 comments:

  1. Wow. Such inspiration from you & your husband! Congratulations to you two!

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  2. Wow. So powerful. Thanks for sharing. My husband's dad was an alcoholic, and it ruined much of his childhood.

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  3. Thanks for sharing and Congratulations for your husband. Like Kelly said below, my husband's dad was an alcoholic and much of his childhood was ruined. They still don't have a relationship...so glad that you husby took the necessary steps to get help. You are both SO strong.

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  4. Congratulations on his sobriety. I love that you shared this story for others as hope and inspiration. He was lucky that he got a second chance because the military is pretty tough on soldiers who get in trouble.

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  5. I love this. Thank you for sharing such an important part of your life, so inspiring. xxo

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  6. Thank you for sharing <3. Congrats to him for overcoming and continuing to work on something so difficult. I may not know him, but I'm proud of him as well. It's a hard thing to do. Send you all love.

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  7. Thank you! And Congratulations to you as well! I know it's not easy.

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  8. Thank you! I'll share with your congrats:)

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  9. Thank you. We share because we know we're not the only ones who deal with this. I want others to know that there is hope!

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  10. Alcohol ruins so much. I'm so thankful that my husband is sober and can have a great relationship with his daughter! I'm sorry that your DH doesn't have one with his dad.

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear that of your DH. Alcohol can ruin so much. I hate what it can do.

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  12. I can't imagine going through that. So glad your family is doing well now. Congrats to your husband!

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  13. Thank you. I couldn't imagine going through it either before I did but we made it through. I know it doesn't always end this way so I am extremely thankful!

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  14. Dropping by from Bloody Marys Count As A Salad link-up and I come across this beautiful and honest post. Congratulations to your husband. :)

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  15. Thank you! Thanks so much for visiting too:)

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  16. Congrats to the both of you! I am happy to know the two of you and feel blessed you both are in my family's lives! Love you!

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  17. Wow! This is so amazing. Congrats to you both for getting through 3 years with no alcohol. I know you have played an intricate part in that. Thank you so much for sharing this heartfelt post with us at Countdown in Style! Don't forget to come back to see if you are featured on Friday! xo

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  18. Wow thank you so much for sharing. That is an amazing accomplishment.

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  19. Congratulations on to your husband! It's a triumph to stay sober. I have not had to go through it personally, but I know the challenges it can present through friends. Be blessed as this anniversary comes around! Thanks for sharing and linking up with Countdown in Style! Don't forget to come back on Friday to see if you were featured!


    ~~April~~
    100lbCountdown.com

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  20. I can imagine this was not very easy to write about. But I love the honesty and real-ness it took to write this post. Congratulations!

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