Thirty Days of Mo(u)rning

A widower at forty-two. What Kateri gave me… what cancer took away… and how I'm coping with life from the woods of Vermont
Thirty Days of Mo(u)rning
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  • 17 Years… dry.

    Posted at 9:04 pm by Darren Lidstrom, on September 9, 2023

    As I was running around work this morning, it was such a pleasant surprise to get a text from my sister reminding me that today is the anniversary of when I quit drinking alcohol… 17 years ago…! I love my sister and I… wait, I was about to write “can’t believe she remembered blah, blah, blah”… but that’s not true. I CAN believe she remembered and reached out… because she is a wonderfully caring person, and it means the world to me that if I can’t get a text from my mom wishing me a “Happy Birthday!” to remind me, I was still able to have that “Oh ya, I quit drinking today” type of feeling and slow realization of a significant accomplishment in my life… followed by the feeling of being loved by someone who I admire, respect, and unconditionally love. My sister… she’s pretty frickin’ awesome. (I mean, there’s a few conditions, but I’m not too worried about any of those happening…!)

    Widower Notes n Thoughts:

    • I quit drinking so that I wouldn’t lose Kateri. Since she died, I still don’t drink because I know my life is simply better… maybe a hundred times better… some might say, “A shit ton better!”… when I don’t drink.
    • There’s a lot of peeps out there who don’t drink… it’s not weird.
    • The pic with the bottle of Absolut Vodka… that was High School… in the early 90’s. (I could tell from the clear braces!… and I know the picture… because it’s mine… of me.)
    • Staying off the bottle has gotten easier with time… which I have found is sorta the same with my widowhood.
    • If you need help with addiction or anything else in life… talk to someone… anyone. Life can get better.

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    Author: Darren Lidstrom

    Posted in Drinking, inspirational, loss, Sobriety, Uncategorized, widower, widowhood | 4 Comments | Tagged 17YearsDry, Ihaven'tdrankin17yearsandboyaremyarmstired, OnTheWagon17Years, thirtydaysofmorning |

    4 thoughts on “17 Years… dry.”

    • Lauren's avatar

      Lauren

      September 9, 2023 at 10:03 pm

      I am happy for your dry years and overjoyed that you have such a caring sister.

      LikeLiked by 1 person

      Reply
    • Todd's avatar

      Todd

      September 10, 2023 at 1:16 am

      Very proud of you brother! No question your life is a shit ton better without it, so keep it up!! …just one question…whose god awful couch was that? 😬🤣

      LikeLike

      Reply
    • jennasnanny04's avatar

      jennasnanny04

      September 10, 2023 at 1:24 am

      Congratulations on your 17 year anniversary! Truly something to be proud of!
      Hugs, nancy

      LikeLike

      Reply
    • Elizabeth's avatar

      Elizabeth

      October 2, 2023 at 3:54 pm

      We stopped drinking many years ago–my husband because I would have left him and me to create a sober home. We don’t miss it at all.

      LikeLike

      Reply

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