My Very Last Alcoholic Drink
71I was gulping my fourth beer and thinking about all the tasks for the following day when I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Gavin, good to see you." I turned around and saw Peter, my ex-classmate from high school.
"Hi, Peter. Haven't seen you in ages. Where have you been?"
" I moved away but had just returned today. How's your family?"
"Very well, thanks. And yours?"
"So you haven't heard? My wife and children died in a traffic accident last year. A drunk driver caused it. My life has not been the same since."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're all right now."
"I don't think I'll ever be all right again. Families of victims of these accidents have their lives changed forever. If anything lasts forever, this could well be the one thing. Any way, I'm going now. Are you going? You want a lift?"
"I've got my car tonight. Thanks for the offer."
"I know you've got your car. I'm offering you a lift in your car."
"Peter, you mean you want to drive me home in my car. Why would I need that?"
"Because you've had too much to drink."
"No, I haven't."
"Yes, you have. If not, you would have remembered that I was also killed in the same traffic accident. I was the drunk driver who killed the whole family driving after downing a six-pack. Can you remember now? Do you still want to drive home?"
I felt shivers down my spine and stared at Peter. I did remember hearing about the tragedy now. Peter smiled kindly, walked me to the car and gave me a lift home. I woke up a couple of hours later and found myself still sitting at the bar.
I examined my glass with the remaining beer in it and said goodbye to what was to be the very last alcoholic drink in my life.
photo credit: www.auburn.nsw.gov.au
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
hey man ... that's really touching. I will try to quit drinking from today.....mmmm....from tomorrow.
Hi Hawkesdream,
Yes, I've been there and done that.
thanks for commenting.
Hi Raj kamal
thanks for commenting, hope the message sticks.
Excellent point. People look at me funny when I sit at the bar watching the NCAA Tournament, drinking diet Coke with a slice of lemon. It's not that I wouldn't like a drink.....it's just that I don't drink and drive anymore. No, I,ve never been in an accident.....but who wants to be. There were plenty of times when I was young that I didn't remember driving home or where I parked my car.....I was very lucky.....times were a little different, there weren't as many cars on the road then. I still love to sit on my deck and watch the sun set and have my Rum....but I don't have to drive anywhere.
Benson a great message you have given to us all in such a clever style.Thumbs up from me..Blondepoetx0x
Hi Florida Keys,
thanks for highlighting the difference between what we simply do and what we do after thinking.
Hi Blondepoet,
thanks for commenting. Good to see you.
I am very grateful that I don't drink anymore. Thanks for this hub.
Hi Teresa,
thanks for commenting. Good to hear that you feel happy about not drinking anymore.
A good way to coduct this important message. One will remember after reading it.
I don't go anywhere unless I have a taxi or a place to stay ready for me
Reading this was just like watching an old Twilight Zone episode. Scared me half to death! I definitely drank too much in the Navy - it was so cheap and so expected. The last time I was drunk, and it was an unusual occurrence, was seventeen years ago.
Recently, I gave all of the alcohol in my house to a neighbor because I believe it just isn't that good for me, even in moderation. (I know, I know, but I'll get my antioxidants from grapes instead of wine from now on.)
I think your story should be passed along to every high school kid. I'll bet this would jar a few into stopping - or at least not driving. Thanks, Doctor.
Hi Ellena,
thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Hi GT,
thanks for supporting the message.
Hi Mindfield,
thanks for supporting the message. May be you can post a link on your social sites and push it a little.
cheers.
I'd be happy to, although as a Misdiagnosed Introvert (a hub of mine you might find of interest), I'm rather outside the social site circles at the moment! But onward and upward. At the very least, I can Digg, Stumble, and Mixx it. It deserves as large an audience as possible.
Hi Mindfield,
thanks for your support. I still have this naive idea that if we can do something to make the world a better place, we'll make ourselves better whether we succeed, or not.
Naive? Maybe not, many changes happen one step at a time , just like long journeys. If any people take a step, it adds up. I do love to read your hubs.
Cheers!-- ( of the non-indulgent kind) to you.
A word, said at the right time and place, can change the world. Thank you for writing this, Benson.
Great story, Benson, with an excellent twist. thanks!
Great message Benson....the story hits home....Thanks!
Hi Rochelle,
thanks for reading and commenting. That will keep me going for a while, at least.
Hi Tom Rubenoff,
thanks for commenting. good to see you.
Hi Christoph Reilly,
thanks for commenting. I can now go and spread the news that Christoph likes my writing. LOL.
Hi Tom Cornett,
thanks for commenting.Good to have you here.
you must be busy Benson haven't seen you for ages
We have to avoid kind of this drink. nice hub
Now that's the most scary thing I've read in months,I also would stop drinking if I drank alcohol,such a life changing hub!
Hi Waren E,
Thanks for reading & commenting. Good to hear that you feel happy about not drinking anymore.
I have read many hubs that shook me up but Benson Yeung this one is one of the best eye opening hubs I have ever read!
You hub was perfect and expressed fully the results of Driving Drunk!!!
GREAT HUB!!!!!!!
Hi mdawson17,
thanks for commenting. Hope the hub works the way it's meant to.
![Mighty Bright XtraFlex2 Clip-On Light (Kindle Version) Black [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Lb9PcThCL._SL75_.jpg){kind=small}
Hawkesdream says:
9 months ago
Nice one, I see that you too have been there.