My Brother the Drunk
As he walked past me, I glanced up at him timidly. I looked into his eyes, realizing they were exactly like mine. Quickly I shifted my gaze to the floor, not wanting to make eye contact. It wasn't always this awkward between us, but something had changed.
My brother stood tall a few feet in front of me. He was almost towering, and I felt myself become very nervous. With his head held high, he walked over to me. He asked how I was doing; I told him that I was fine. My brother flipped his head back in a cocky manner, as if to emphasize his ear-length hair. I secretly rolled my eyes. Making small talk, I asked him how school was going. He replied
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I guess as a child, it really didn't bother me. Whenever we played games he was a sore loser and a poor winner. I was the baby of the family so he got mad when I got more attention. He picked on me when we played with my cousins, and then I would tell on him and he would get in trouble. But we would always forget about our fights, and soon we would be getting along.
When I was in seventh grade my brother decided to go into the Navy. It was very hard on my family because we were so close. At night, I could hear my parents talking about it. My brother was determined to go, no matter what.
The summer before my eighth-grade year, he left. We took him up to Rockford, where he would be bussed to Chicago for boot camp. My parents cried and cried. It was very difficult to see him go.
In the years that followed I wrote my brother all the time. I would tell him how school was going and what I was up to. I remember crying when he would answer my letters. He told me about his meeting new people and how difficult his jobs were. I loved getting his letters.
On his first leave, we went to Midway airport in Chicago to pick him up. I couldn't believe how wonderful he looked. He was tan, and he had grown his hair longer. I ran up to him and gave him a huge hug. He seemed so strong, and I was so excited to
In the instance of drunk driving, the actions of the drunk driver are related to the safety of the drivers within their proximity and therefore affects not only the driver but others as well. Our previous moral experiences allow us to determine what the intentions of the drunk driver might be. Some drivers may choose to drive under the influence of alcohol because they have had an emergency that requires them to be at a certain place and they do not have the means to reach to their destination except for driving themselves. In this case, the context becomes complicated and intricate. However, if the driver is risking his own and other drivers’ safety, it becomes clear that their intentions are based on nonchalance and disregard for others.
I would do things such as, make his lunch, made sure he showered and brushed his teeth, and all in all I made sure that no one would ever hurt him. The divorce really destroyed my idea of love and I never ever wanted my brother to go through that type of pain again. My brother and I had a different type of relationship than other siblings, we were super close and we did everything together. Till this day he listens to me and does whatever I tell him to do. We were all each other had during that time, so when we adjusted to our new living arrangements, it had felt foreign to have my parents actually help us with certain situations. I often asked to help make dinner, help with laundry, and clean around the house because these chores were something that I had to do all by
In the play, “Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth” by Drew Hayden Taylor, the story of two sisters, Barb and Janice is told. They had not met each other for the first time until Janice had turned 35 and had returned for her first visit. The two are basically strangers and their relationship consists of nothing but anger. The development in their relationship seems to be impossible with the two who are unable to understand each other. Janice’s anger towards her own life and Barb’s anger towards Janice blinds them from understanding and accepting each other. Janice continuously struggles to find her identity and her frustration turns to anger. Barb is angered by Janice’s
The Saturday night party was the place to be. Anyone who is anyone was there. John’s curfew is midnight and its 12:05. Mark had been doing quite a lot of drinking and he was John’s ride home. John questioned whether or not he wanted to get in the car with Mark, but thought about how mad his parents were going to be. He was already five minutes late. Saying to himself “Just this one time,” he decided to get in the car. John never made it home that night. Mark had rolled the car off the bridge one mile away from his house. John lost his life all because he was afraid of getting grounded. There are many situations similar to John’s, and in a lot of them, no one survives. Because of all the death and tragedy as a result of driving under the
Alcohol consumption was initiated on reservations when traders in the nineteenth century started to offer it to oppressed and depressed Native Americans. Natives represent, in fact, the ethnic group with the highest degree of alcohol consumption in the United States. Confinement on reservations after displacement brought for Native Americans identity conflicts and assimilation problems. This situation promoted the abuse of liquor to mitigate the psychological pain inflicted by the dispossession of the land and enclosure in a limited and controlled space. Both the stereotype of the “Noble Savage” and the “drunken Indian” are recurrent figures in mainstream literature of the US.
When he was able to talk he said to me “I’m sorry that you have to see me this way, I’m supposed to be the big strong brother.” That broke my heart and I just didn’t want to lose my brother, we’re just so close. Over the last week of summer I sat in his hospital room with him from 7 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. I didn’t want to be anywhere but with him.
One of the hardest things I have gone through is deploying for over a year while my daughters were growing up. One year does not sound like a long time, but for a young child it is an eternity. When you come back in their life, it takes a while to get close again. I missed her first steps, some of her first words, first Christmas, and her first birthday. These missed life events made me consider leaving the military, choosing a career that will not have me leaving my family for long periods. Very few people can understand the hardships like those of a military
At the doorway, momentarily, I hesitated. Should I continue? Should I call the police instead? Should I even be here, pondering over to help the man who constantly abused his children and deserved to die? Should I?
My papa was drafted into the Army while living in Wauseon Ohio. He joined because it was his obligation and his parents felt it was his job to serve his country. He recalls his first days of service as being homesick and was worrying that he wasn't going to return home. In May of 1968 he attended Army boot camp in Fort Gordon, Georgia. He remembers that one of the instructors he had was very strict and would yell at him if he did not stand at attention. He went
My Father is an Air Traffic Controller in the military and he had been given word that he had been given orders to move from Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska to Eglin AFB in Niceville, Florida in two months. I remember when my parents told me that we were moving. I was sitting in the living room with my sister when my Dad and Mom came and joined us to break the news. Once they sat down I could tell something was wrong, I could feel my heart racing and the temperature rising. Once they said the words, “we are moving to Florida” I could feel my heart sink because that meant going to a new school, new friends and no more spending time with my family. Alaska was my home and I never thought we would leave. I was scared for what the future held, but I had no idea that it would make such an impact on my life and shape me into the person I am today.
Depending on close relationships, we quickly learned to confide in each other. We did chores as a team, participated in church youth, and made up our own games to keep us entertained in the back yard. We were constantly together, which we all hated then. Now, I look back and realize forming a close bond with my siblings is one of the greatest memories of my childhood. I never thought that my brothers would be some of the most important people in my life considering how much we would bicker, but now, I am beyond thankful for them.
During my sixth grade year, my brother Brian was deployed to Iraq for the first time. From the youngest sibling’s point of view, Brian not being around was constantly shocking
Alcoholism is perhaps the most common form of drug abuse in North America today. Scientists report that the reason alcohol is so popular to people is because it is pleasant, relaxing, and is considered a "social beverage." But what individuals often do not take in to consideration is the fact that alcohol dulls the brain and confuses physical reactions. This can lead to numerous injuries, accidents, and death. Alcohol affects every part of an alcoholic's life: their body, their mind and their family life. The body has a natural chemical that gives a feeling of a "natural high". It happens in the presence of a life-endangering situation. This chemical is adrenaline, which is meant to prepare the body for defense in
Driving while under the influence of alcohol has been an issue over the years. It has caused many car crashes and some even fatal accidents. Not only will it cause pain and suffering on the victim but to the family and friends around the victim it could be very devastating. For many, one drink can be the one mistake that could follow them for the rest of their life. There are many ways to prevent drunk driving but how will they be implemented?
There are several different ways to describe substance abuse. So many people think that substance abuse only pertains to alcoholism. There is several other substances that may cause someone to be diagnosed with substance abuse disorder. Some of those things include: marijuana, alcohol, stimulants(cocaine and amphetamines), Hallucinogens, Inhalants, sedatives, and even nicotine. Even though some people may not see some of these things as things that may become addicting they are. More and more people are becoming addicted to the smallest things such as alcohol. For hundreds and thousands of American citizens alcoholism is become far too common. Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not