He Thought He Knew All There Was To Know About His Long Time Friend

We were friends in high school living parellel lives. And we got married, had children, and went to college. It was a struggle at times, but we did a lot of partying on weekends and that was our time for just us, until he stopped the partying.

Well, maybe it is more correct to say that he stopped taking the drugs and drinking alcohol. He said that there were still parties without drugs and alcohol. I didn't know he was an alcoholic or drug addict, or whatever it is called now.

He was my best drinking buddy. Does that mean I have a problem? No. I didn't drink like him. But he was fun, drunk or sober. Come to think of it, he started drinking way before I did. I didn't know he was using the drugs regularly until he told me his story the other day.

We hadn't seen each other in a while and decided to get coffee at the place down the street from me. That is when he told me his story of drugs and alcohol. He thought I knew. I knew some of it, but not all of it. He told me how he was at a point where he was going to lose his job.

I thought he owned the company. He told me that his wife owns the company, and she was going to get a divorce and buy him out. She owned the majority of the business. That was a weird way to tell me he was looking at a divorce before he quit drinking.

Now, it is really clear that his marriage is the reason for his sobering up. And that is probably why I haven't seen much of him lately. We talked for an hour or so, and then I had to go to an appointment.

I asked if we could maybe get together as couples for dinner, but he said he isn't going to bars or restaurants with bars yet. He doesn't do that. I said, No problem, we can eat at our house.

While I prefer a drink with dinner, I don't have that every night. I told him I would talk to my wife and get back to him. As I walked away from the coffee shop, it occurred to me just how different life can be, even when you think you are living parallel lives to a buddy from high school.

A few weeks later, I got the call from Paul. He sheepishly told me that his wife doesn't trust him out with his drinking buddy yet, but they want to invite us to dinner this Friday or Saturday if we are free.

I asked my wife if we had plans for either of those days, and told her the plan to have dinner with Paul and Sarah and she was all in. She said that makes it easier for her. She doesn't have to cook or clean for company. So we were on the calendar to get together on Saturday night at 5:00.

When Saturday arrived, we were at their house promptly at 5:00. We decided to grill out, and that went exactly how I expected. No problems with conversation, just the same Paul and Sarah we had gone out with many times.

I know he said he was having constant blackouts and wasn't remembering much. I can only remember a few times when it got weird with Paul, but I will just have to take his word for it. It wasn't beyond me to drink a few too many.

I'm so pleased we got together for the talk and that he can still be a part of my life. I will definitely not have any problem supporting his staying drug and alcohol free!

Our next time together will be to come to our house for dinner and to play some cards. I think I am going to enjoy having sober friends. It will surely be cheaper.