Drinkin' Lessons
Biographical Non-Fiction17 total reviews
Comment from ravenblack
Man, I remember my great grandfather, the picture of cold and stoic. But when wrestling came on, he'd be out of his chair, sometimes on the floor as if aping their movements. Both my grandparents had ect. Mental illness was never a taboo topic.
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Man, I remember my great grandfather, the picture of cold and stoic. But when wrestling came on, he'd be out of his chair, sometimes on the floor as if aping their movements. Both my grandparents had ect. Mental illness was never a taboo topic.
Comment Written 27-Dec-2014
Comment from Drew Delaney
This sounds a bit hilarious, however I don't care to appear without having a heart. I'm so glad you were able to live above the rationality and learn to go with the flow. We all have these type of situations where when we were younger, we thought we were the only odd family in the world. And later learned, most families were different or odd in one area or another. Now you take care of messed up people. How ironic? Good for you! They used to call it the Funny Farm. or am I going too far back for you? Drew
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This sounds a bit hilarious, however I don't care to appear without having a heart. I'm so glad you were able to live above the rationality and learn to go with the flow. We all have these type of situations where when we were younger, we thought we were the only odd family in the world. And later learned, most families were different or odd in one area or another. Now you take care of messed up people. How ironic? Good for you! They used to call it the Funny Farm. or am I going too far back for you? Drew
Comment Written 26-Dec-2014
Comment from robina1978
Is that a photo from a family gathering? It complements your biographical story very well. You write mainly how your mother had schizophrenia , and was admitted for long spells in a mental hospital. From what you write, I don't think there is much wrong with you.
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Is that a photo from a family gathering? It complements your biographical story very well. You write mainly how your mother had schizophrenia , and was admitted for long spells in a mental hospital. From what you write, I don't think there is much wrong with you.
Comment Written 26-Dec-2014
Comment from Joe_P
Thank you for sharing the story. Your writing style is "honest" with no pretensions. It is "real". I empathize with your experiences. My father suffered from the same disease. When I was a child, I witnessed several episodes, some embarrassing and one involving the police. My dad passed away in 1987. One day, years later, I talked to my doctor about my family's health history, including my dad. He said that today there are effective drugs for schizophrenia, which is now called "bipolar disorder". It is interesting to think that if my father had lived a few more years, he could have been treated, and I would have had a normal and perhaps revealing conversation with him. I never had a good "talk" with him.
Joe
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Thank you for sharing the story. Your writing style is "honest" with no pretensions. It is "real". I empathize with your experiences. My father suffered from the same disease. When I was a child, I witnessed several episodes, some embarrassing and one involving the police. My dad passed away in 1987. One day, years later, I talked to my doctor about my family's health history, including my dad. He said that today there are effective drugs for schizophrenia, which is now called "bipolar disorder". It is interesting to think that if my father had lived a few more years, he could have been treated, and I would have had a normal and perhaps revealing conversation with him. I never had a good "talk" with him.
Joe
Comment Written 26-Dec-2014
Comment from seaglass
Wow, lots of insight here, Mike, into you and your life. Your muse has revealed your childhood in pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle, or patchwork quilt.
My heart always breaks a little for you when I come upon another piece of the story. I realize you are resilient and have become the sensitive, caring man you are as result of endurance, but a hurting or confused or deprived child always pulls at my heart.
I've worked with schizophrenic clients and even with meds, it's a harsh reality for the victims of this illness. Also they can be dangerous, thinking they are right.
Shock treatment was also brutal. I knew of some who took it for chronic depression during the late 50's and early 60's and ended up worse off...really numb and dysfunctional. I always thought just the threat of it might make people want to behave as normal people.
I smiled about your wrestling memories. We didn't have a TV but visited relatives to watch Tuesday night wrestling and Roller Derby. Remember Gorgeous George? He was my favorite.
I can't stand to watch it now but in those days anything on TV was awesome.
I have a wacky sense of humor as well. Mine is inherited from my father's side. Slap-stick kicks it off and causes giggles or hysterical laughter at inappropriate times. Has gotten me into trouble all my life. I see my reality as a long, never ending "I Love Lucy show".
My mother had issues though different than your mother. She had high anxiety and I think a personality disorder. She required lots of attention and was very jealous of any attention I received from my father. I was an unplanned only child, so it prevented closeness for me and Dad.
At age 15 I realized I was emotionally older than she wsa and that was disconcerting...led to an early marriage understand now that her lack of good mothering was due to her lack of skills. You can work well from an empty toolbox.
Funny how Christmas always puts one into the mood of remembering.
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Wow, lots of insight here, Mike, into you and your life. Your muse has revealed your childhood in pieces, like a jigsaw puzzle, or patchwork quilt.
My heart always breaks a little for you when I come upon another piece of the story. I realize you are resilient and have become the sensitive, caring man you are as result of endurance, but a hurting or confused or deprived child always pulls at my heart.
I've worked with schizophrenic clients and even with meds, it's a harsh reality for the victims of this illness. Also they can be dangerous, thinking they are right.
Shock treatment was also brutal. I knew of some who took it for chronic depression during the late 50's and early 60's and ended up worse off...really numb and dysfunctional. I always thought just the threat of it might make people want to behave as normal people.
I smiled about your wrestling memories. We didn't have a TV but visited relatives to watch Tuesday night wrestling and Roller Derby. Remember Gorgeous George? He was my favorite.
I can't stand to watch it now but in those days anything on TV was awesome.
I have a wacky sense of humor as well. Mine is inherited from my father's side. Slap-stick kicks it off and causes giggles or hysterical laughter at inappropriate times. Has gotten me into trouble all my life. I see my reality as a long, never ending "I Love Lucy show".
My mother had issues though different than your mother. She had high anxiety and I think a personality disorder. She required lots of attention and was very jealous of any attention I received from my father. I was an unplanned only child, so it prevented closeness for me and Dad.
At age 15 I realized I was emotionally older than she wsa and that was disconcerting...led to an early marriage understand now that her lack of good mothering was due to her lack of skills. You can work well from an empty toolbox.
Funny how Christmas always puts one into the mood of remembering.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
Comment from l.raven
Hi Michael, loved your story...sorry about your mother...but you know her from the heart...and that is were your love for her came from...like a disabled child...you don't say I don't want you because of that...you say you are mine...and I love you...I have a great respect for you because of the person I know you to be...from FanStory...ya know I love ya...so very well written...Luff Linda xxoo
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Hi Michael, loved your story...sorry about your mother...but you know her from the heart...and that is were your love for her came from...like a disabled child...you don't say I don't want you because of that...you say you are mine...and I love you...I have a great respect for you because of the person I know you to be...from FanStory...ya know I love ya...so very well written...Luff Linda xxoo
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
Comment from gypsycaravan
I've always found it interesting how our minds and demeanor will adjust to what we find necessary for survival. Your manner of dealing with your 'day to day' is not surprising to me. As an intensive care nurse for many years, I don't rattle at all in crisis or emergencies, but function quickly and without emotion. Have had many ask how I stay so strong? Just the training, I guess. HOWEVER, tell me a sentimental story or show me a photo of a sad child or pet, and I'm boohooing all over the place. I, too, am often very quick to deal with most events with humor and have never had a problem making my self the target of that humor. We must be twins and separated at birth, mikey. Nice job on the writing. That always goes with out saying regarding your works.
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I've always found it interesting how our minds and demeanor will adjust to what we find necessary for survival. Your manner of dealing with your 'day to day' is not surprising to me. As an intensive care nurse for many years, I don't rattle at all in crisis or emergencies, but function quickly and without emotion. Have had many ask how I stay so strong? Just the training, I guess. HOWEVER, tell me a sentimental story or show me a photo of a sad child or pet, and I'm boohooing all over the place. I, too, am often very quick to deal with most events with humor and have never had a problem making my self the target of that humor. We must be twins and separated at birth, mikey. Nice job on the writing. That always goes with out saying regarding your works.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
Comment from Dean Kuch
My wife calls the WWE and similar organizations which televise professional wrestling programs "soap operas for men", and I suppose to an extent, she's right. They're pretty entertaining is all I can say. Sure, most anyone with half an ounce of intelligence knows it's all scripted. Still, Monday Night Raw, Friday Night Smackdown, and similar shows are a blast to watch.
Old Earl sounds like he was a pretty fun guy to be around. I think every family has either a friend or fellow clan member much like Old Earl. Good God, my wife's family sure does. Dozens of 'em, in fact!
My mother underwent electroshock therapy after she'd suffered a nervous breakdown in 1963, three years after I was born. This was just prior to my middle brother, Brandon, being born -- about a year before. I tell myself often that I had absolutely nothing to do with her cracking up, but the fact of the matter is she was fine before I came along. I guess I shouldn't have used my diapers (cloth back then -- in the caveman days -- as my daughter likes to remind me) for a bug catcher and small critter collector.
Some great insights into the way you are how you are, Mikey. At least you have a good excuse. :)
~Dean
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My wife calls the WWE and similar organizations which televise professional wrestling programs "soap operas for men", and I suppose to an extent, she's right. They're pretty entertaining is all I can say. Sure, most anyone with half an ounce of intelligence knows it's all scripted. Still, Monday Night Raw, Friday Night Smackdown, and similar shows are a blast to watch.
Old Earl sounds like he was a pretty fun guy to be around. I think every family has either a friend or fellow clan member much like Old Earl. Good God, my wife's family sure does. Dozens of 'em, in fact!
My mother underwent electroshock therapy after she'd suffered a nervous breakdown in 1963, three years after I was born. This was just prior to my middle brother, Brandon, being born -- about a year before. I tell myself often that I had absolutely nothing to do with her cracking up, but the fact of the matter is she was fine before I came along. I guess I shouldn't have used my diapers (cloth back then -- in the caveman days -- as my daughter likes to remind me) for a bug catcher and small critter collector.
Some great insights into the way you are how you are, Mikey. At least you have a good excuse. :)
~Dean
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
Comment from amahra
LOL I can see why you're so calm in a crisis. This was a very interesting and fun read. The humorous way you wrote it kept me from feeling sad for your mom. And it was very well written.
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LOL I can see why you're so calm in a crisis. This was a very interesting and fun read. The humorous way you wrote it kept me from feeling sad for your mom. And it was very well written.
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Good story, Mikey. They say schizophrenia is inherited. Do you have any symptoms? Or maybe she didn't have that at all but back then, they knew a lot less than they do now. YOu are very creative and definitely hear a different drummer, but that's a good thing. Who's to say being a little "crazy" is bad, anyway? Normal=average=boring. And you have no danger of ever being boring. :)
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Good story, Mikey. They say schizophrenia is inherited. Do you have any symptoms? Or maybe she didn't have that at all but back then, they knew a lot less than they do now. YOu are very creative and definitely hear a different drummer, but that's a good thing. Who's to say being a little "crazy" is bad, anyway? Normal=average=boring. And you have no danger of ever being boring. :)
Comment Written 25-Dec-2014
