This is what I know.
I am a recovering alcoholic.
I associated with a tribe of people who were alcoholics for many years because that is really who you want to hang out with if you are a serious drinker. You understand each other and recognize each other, or at least I did. I could find the “real” drinker almost anywhere, and would get next to them. There is no such thing as having “too much” with this kin, no monitoring, no running out of the elixir but if that happens, you go get more, not a problem.
We truly enjoyed each other for the lack of hassle, for the unspoken understanding that we were in it for the buzz, and for that particular glorious relief, inspiration, energy, disinhibition, blood stream wonder of alcohol, the great love.
So I watched Brett Kavanaugh, all red faced and belligerent and defensive yesterday, and recognized one of my tribe instantly. In fact I kept thinking that he reminded me my of greatest drinking buddy, ’Daniel’, all the way down to that pouty, over-active mouth, gulping bottle after bottle of water. Dead ringer.
Then this exchange with Amy Klobucher was absolutely riveting to me. He is squirming, on the defensive, and then goes into attack mode, asking her about HER drinking.
That rang so true to form. I did that when I was questioned about my own habits; I’ve observed it from the other side.
A true thing I learned when I was still drinking: a friend, who had several years of sobriety, asked me if I thought I had a problem. I said , “gee,I don’t really know”, but INSIDE me I was screaming,” Hell yes! I have a problem.”
He said, good, because if you had a problem, you would know.
I know, Brett knows.
After 30 years of sobriety I still know.