1055 Days of Sobriety, but Only 2 Have Been Thanksgiving
Sober holidays are better than drunk ones
I woke up barely knowing where I was. Again. Luckily, I was in my own bedroom, and during my stumble to the kitchen, I remembered it was Thanksgiving.
My head thumped violently, and my heart beat faster than it should. I already knew what kind of day it would be — the kind where I tried desperately to stave off the hangover by keeping the party going. Besides, I was pretty sure I was still drunk.
I had a coffee and tried to clear my head, but no amount of coffee could undo what I did to myself. The vague guilt and shame persisted until I got to my folks’ and sloppily suggested we have a drink to celebrate. They always obliged, and I continued lying to myself and drinking throughout the day.
Year after year this scene played out much the same. I would party hard with friends the night before the holiday — a night most bartenders admit is one of the busiest nights of the year — and spend the next two days on a bender.
Even after I got married and had kids, that behavior stuck around. Deep frying a turkey? Have beers. Smoking a turkey? Have whiskey. Roasting a turkey? Have a “civilized” glass of wine. All in the name of tradition, relaxation, and celebration.
