[Janet]

I was talking to my sister-in-law and she said she had noticed his drinking picked up right after his dad passed away. She said when he would stop out at the flower shop he always had a 6 pack with him. I HAD NO IDEA!! I asked her why she didn't tell me and she thought I knew. He's obviously been hiding the drinking really well. He is never drunk, now thinking back, when we would be in conversation, he acted like he didn't understand. I thought it was his hearing (it's not real good), it could have been, but I think he was just intoxicated.

I just don't see how I was so blind!!! My husband is 54 years old. He has rhuematioid arthritis, but is taking medicine and seeing a specialist. It is supposedly in remission. He also has a problem with a disk in his back, that causes one of his knees to give out if he is not careful. He has had a hearing problem since he was little. He's not deaf, but doesn't always hear things. He is skinnier than a stick.

With all his heavy smoking....and now the drinking....I need to get this nipped real quick. I may have Ricky talk with him, but I think I need to also. He needs to know that my son is not going to witness his father slowly kill himself.

I'd like to speak with him tonight, but they have a Scout meeting and I would rather Ricky not listen to us. I don't think this is something that I should wait too long on.