Letters from my Father

My move from Ohio to New England in 1978 involved, in large part, a geographical cure to gain distance from my father’s alcoholism. Over time, the relationship with him improved, though he continued drinking. I got married and our first child was born in 1987. My wife and I visited my parents the following August to witness my dad’s last ugly drunk. Soon afterward, before his 71st birthday, he came into AA and stayed sober for the rest of his life. A few years later, my father and I walked around his golf course while he made amends to me, for which I’ll be forever grateful. He was almost 10 years sober at the time of his death. Recently, I’ve met in AA meetings around my hometown folks who still remember him.