My dad was a drinker, no doubt about that. The particulars of how and why may rage on long after his death, but they don't really affect the footprint his drinking left behind. All three of his sons ended up struggling with substance abuse, each in his own way. Alcohol defined his life, and in so doing it defined our entire family's. Same old story.

Part of me wants to say "I can't blame the guy for his drinking––look at his life!" But other people have had harder lives and don't let alcohol define them. He could have channeled his resentment and sense of failure into something else: becoming a world-class chess player or carver of wooden duck decoys, etc. 

Instead he channeled it into drinking because... well, it was the thing to do among a certain set. A certain sociocultural strata, if you will. As you'll see if you continue down this path. 

1. WHAT DID I KNOW ABOUT THE DRINKING?
2. THE MANLY WAY TO COPE
3. NO BOOZE TONIGHT!
4. THE JUICE FREAK