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Just One Drink A Night? ‘Fake Study!’ I Say

Let’s not talk about whether to drink alcoholic beverages. Let’s consider instead how much is too much. Men are now told to limit ourselves to one alcoholic drink per day, according to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. One drink usually does not kick us into the pleasantly relaxing state enjoyed by those of us who drink but don’t get drunk. So I asked myself: Should I limit myself? The answer came back: “Dummy, you already limit yourself that way!” I usually have about six ounces of red pinot noir while I read before bedtime. “Pinot noir” gives off ...

Better Together: Combating Addiction As A Community

Experience has taught us this: addiction is not something you want to tackle alone. Group treatment, mutual aid fellowships, like Alcoholics Anonymous, and good-old supportive friends have long proven this principle. In recovery, together is better than alone. Finding strength in numbers is important for personal recovery. Addressing addiction together is also crucial on a larger, public health scale. More than ever, individuals, community agencies, and government departments across Chautauqua County are responding to addiction in our county together, in collaborative and coordinated ...

Watching A Storm Soothes The Soul

At my age one of the pleasures of life is watching a storm. You can see it grow to the north and west, it comes from over the ridge along Lake Erie, then it sweeps down Chautauqua Lake and consumes you until the last rumble of thunder is gone and the rain trickles to a drizzle. I remember growing up on the farm. Our place was high on a hill, you could see the weather coming from the west, and we had a vista to the east after it had passed. You could see all the way to Frewsburg with the Allegheny hills in the background. When I started flying, weather became an even more important ...

2020 Can End Up As Year Of Unity

The year 2020 has been a year of disruptions, disunity, and violence. The virus has done some damage, but worse by far is the economic pain and dislocation perpetrated by our own governments, as well as the ongoing riots that are supported and encouraged by certain politicians. Sickness and death from the virus certainly has had its effects, not only on the lives and families of individuals, but in the grand scheme of things, its economic effect has been negligible. Almost all of the economic problems that American citizens face lie at the feet of politicians and the draconian policies ...

Becoming Isolated From Family, Friends

What is ripping apart our social fabric? Is it the effects of the COVID lockdown? Is it political bitterness? Consider weddings and funerals. In years past, I thought about Social Security in terms of myself or my wife and immediate family. I never consciously thought about childhood friends or acquaintances. But, whether I knew it or not, they were “in the picture” as I decided which political issues to support. When I considered whether to donate to a charity, I never consciously thought about whether that charity was a favorite of this or that grandchild. Who does — ...

A Man Is Tortured By Alcoholic Wife

The second of three installments offered a touch more substantive insights into my client, Mason. He’s a retired nurse practitioner. He has siblings, children and grandchildren, and a few friends and acquaintances. He states that his energy is drained. He otherwise appears healthy. Nevertheless, he signed a consent form to allow me access to information sharing with both his PCP and good friend, Christian. Prior to the third visit, I made contact with Mason’s PCP. She shared some vital information. She’d been encouraging Mason to seek therapy. His BP was high, though not ...