Alcoholism Part 2
I went to my first Al-Anon meeting last night with the wife. Since I’ve had my share of AA meetings, it felt kind of strange being on the other side of the disease. However it did emphasize to me that alchoholism is like a nuclear bomb on a family. It wipes out those closest to Ground Zero, but leaves radiation that poisons a family for generations.
Whereas AA is about survival of the alcoholic, Al-Anon is about survival of the innocents surrounding him or her. I can’t say much after going to one meeting, but I get the impression that Al-Anon’s message is how to love the alcoholic without allowing him or her to immolate you. To use another metaphor, one Al-Anon member said it was like staying on the ground while a tornado swirls around you.
What saddens me is that I don’t hold out much hope for the wife’s sister. I’m afraid that our small family is going to get smaller soon, and my duty is to help prevent my wife from being burned up or swirled up.
