Just Another Day in Paradise

In 1980 I played a part in getting my younger brother into treatment. He needed it—or so I thought. I attended family week on Jim's behalf and tried to listen, and was given a Big Book. I read it cover-to-cover but I didn't learn anything. I was focused on Jim's drinking and resolutely refused to look at myself. The entire time that Jim was in the treatment center, I was scared that he would turn on me and point out my own drinking ways. I was already privately questioning my own drinking. I drank a lot then and had drunk a lot with Jim. But, to his credit, he never once pointed out the hypocrisy of my behavior.