Drowning memories...
By: Morgan Greer
Staff Reporter
Issue date: 11/28/06 Section: The Game of Life
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Things that are considered "normal" while growing up can be anything from bumps and bruises from childhood accidents, making promises to be best friends forever with your kindergarten friends and learning about the world in general.
But what if "normal" includes watching a parent in a drunken stupor?
"I always thought that it was normal for someone to drink," said Bryan, a former U of M student who asked not to be identified.
Bryan said that he remembers going down to the river for cookouts where everyone around him would drink too much. Yet, eventually, when his father was drunk one night when he was 12, he got scared.
"I was worried that my dad was going to do something bad to my mother," he said. "I was trying to call the police to come and help, but as I was reaching for the phone, my dad grabbed it from me and asked why."
That was when Bryan knew his dad had a problem, but it was not the only time his dad's drinking would cause heartache for the family.
On Bryan's 18th birthday, his family went out for dinner at a restaurant in their hometown. Before even getting to the restaurant, Bryan's father was drunk.
"I was upset at my dad and I asked him why he was drunk," he said.
Bryan never got an answer. Instead, his father got up to go to the bathroom and did not come back.
"My mom and I wondered if he walked out forever," he said. "We spent two hours looking for him and eventually he got home by hitchhiking. And he was pissed at us because we looked for him. It ruined my birthday."
Bryan, who is now able to drink legally, said that he never wants to have a sip of alcohol, mainly because of his father and the problems he faced.
"It's just one of those things," he said. "If you have ever known what it feels like to have someone you love and have their attitude, mind and personality change and act like they can't control it - it makes you not want to be that way."
While Bryan does not ever want to take a drink, the percentage of under-aged college students who drink is more than half.
But what if "normal" includes watching a parent in a drunken stupor?
"I always thought that it was normal for someone to drink," said Bryan, a former U of M student who asked not to be identified.
Bryan said that he remembers going down to the river for cookouts where everyone around him would drink too much. Yet, eventually, when his father was drunk one night when he was 12, he got scared.
"I was worried that my dad was going to do something bad to my mother," he said. "I was trying to call the police to come and help, but as I was reaching for the phone, my dad grabbed it from me and asked why."
That was when Bryan knew his dad had a problem, but it was not the only time his dad's drinking would cause heartache for the family.
On Bryan's 18th birthday, his family went out for dinner at a restaurant in their hometown. Before even getting to the restaurant, Bryan's father was drunk.
"I was upset at my dad and I asked him why he was drunk," he said.
Bryan never got an answer. Instead, his father got up to go to the bathroom and did not come back.
"My mom and I wondered if he walked out forever," he said. "We spent two hours looking for him and eventually he got home by hitchhiking. And he was pissed at us because we looked for him. It ruined my birthday."
Bryan, who is now able to drink legally, said that he never wants to have a sip of alcohol, mainly because of his father and the problems he faced.
"It's just one of those things," he said. "If you have ever known what it feels like to have someone you love and have their attitude, mind and personality change and act like they can't control it - it makes you not want to be that way."
While Bryan does not ever want to take a drink, the percentage of under-aged college students who drink is more than half.