Web Exclusive: Growing Up Drunk

My grandfather was stockbroker when the market crashed in 1929 and all I knew about him was that he ended up on skid row and died shortly after my parents were married. My other grandfather had owned taverns in the Manhattan area and died from diabetes after having both legs amputated. My suspicions are that they were both alcoholic. It seemed to skip a generation because both my parents can drink an occasional glass of wine. I also have two brothers and three sisters who the gene seemed to avoid.