My mouth doesn’t feel like a huge cotton ball. And I still have that $50 in my pocket that was meant as extra spending money for the week. Instead of my body feeling like it was hit by a train (possibly due to some brawl I’d gotten into) it feels good enough to play ball with the family. My spouse and I are still in love and not headed to divorce court. My mind is clear, no headache, and no still buzzed feeling. I can make the most of this Labor Day, since it’s rare I get a three day weekend. I can sit on the patio, drink some vanilla coffee instead of some V8 with Tabasco concoction and truly appreciate my life and my surroundings. And I remember exactly how I got home, and I didn’t park my truck with one wheel on the curb.

This wasn’t always the case, many Monday mornings in my past were met with me barely able or wanting to lift my head, off of the pillow, or floor wherever I landed when I passed out. And yes, many Sunday mornings I went to church still smelling like a stale cigarette dipped in JD.

I didn’t have a drinking problem, so I told myself. But I’d sure like to have all the money I spent and that other people spent on the booze, because I’m pretty sure I could be driving a brand new Harley trike with that cash, riding around enjoying the scenery.

If my Mom was still alive, she’d be proud of me. She spent a lot of hours and years up late worrying about me, and praying for me. She’d be pleased to know that now I can sit on my patio enjoy good company, have fun, have a drink or two, and never wake up broke, with regret or a hangover.