CHARLIE'S
TALE Fire & Water
This
is my story. I was born on August 11th, 1940. When I was young,
about 9 years old, my father owned a ranch and a men's wear store.
In the summer break from school I was helping out on the ranch,
mowing grass, bringing in the hay to feed the cattle during winter.
Hard work for a kid but it had to be done.
I
had my first beer when I was 9 years old and never thought too much
about it. Back in school I was a super athlete involved in curling,
baseball, hockey and basketball. We all drank after the games -
this was between the ages of 14 to 18. It never entered my mind
that this was going to be a problem. I put all my energy into sports
- girls would come later. I was a team player, not a leader. We
won the Canadian Pony League Championship, the Alberta Junior Curling
Championship and the Alberta Junior Hardball Championship. Later
when I was 20 I played with the Junior Edmonton Oil Kings; curling
where we won cars, TV's, cash - you name it, we won it.
It didn't matter what sport I was involved in, after it was over
there was the beer. One always led to six or more. I got a job on
a big city fire department. Mainly because I was always a winner
at whatever I did and a team player. I became a world class Curler
- winning Canadian Championships a total of 5 - because of the free
time we got working on the fire department, I started three companies
- painting, rental and construction. I was making more money away
from the fire department than with it, therefore I could afford
anything I wanted including lots of booze, fast cars, boats and
easy women - all of which loved me but not for the right reasons.
This
continued on till I thought who needs the fire department. I had
been over trained on rescue - jaws of life and saving peoples lives
- I was on call 24 hours a day with trauma being a big part of it.
I took charge of every accident I was present at and was promoted
to Captain so I was able to take charge of any situation. I decided
I don't need this shit anymore and I retired from the fire department
thinking I'm ok - I cashed in my pension to put into my businesses
- shortly after that the economy went bust and so did all my adventures.
I still kept up the drinking all through this.
When
I turned 40 I moved to Vancouver where I met a wonderful lady and
we were married shortly after that.
I
was painting for a major company and making very good money. 2 years
after we were married my wife was told she had cancer. Five operations
later she was told she had 3 months to live. I quit my job to look
after her. By now my drinking was out of control but I "did" what
she wanted and God rest her soul, and now I am left with nothing.
Now
60 years old, I went back to the booze and drank more than 240 cans
of beer in one week and had a grand-mal seizure. Somehow SWAP got
in touch with me and I thank them for saving my life!!
I
am still a long way from being perfect, but I am a hell of a lot
better at 62 than I was before.
THE
END
Marie's
Story
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