Muddy, Melancholic Mare…

The “wading pond” behind my office. I’d throw myself in dramatically, but eeeuuuu…

I am tired. And I feel muddy, my head as bulky as a wool turtleneck. I have so little energy I might be considered slothful, if someone were considering. Maybe I’m coming down with something. I hope so, because otherwise I might be depressed. But I don’t want to be coming down with anything serious – maybe just a summer cold, or a mild allergic reaction to pollen.

I think if anyone tells me to, “Work the steps”, I will hunt them down and muster the energy to kill them.

Is this a thing? Is there a benchmark to look up on the internet: a two year sobriety doldrum with a name and a diagnosis and a cure? I don’t feel like drinking, but I sure don’t feel like “Partying Sober” either. I’ll rally (I always do), but I think the best thing I can muster today are some statistics from the CDC.*

Reading the evidence makes me realize how very fortunate I am:

• Excessive alcohol use led to approximately 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) each year in the United States from 2006 – 2010, shortening the lives of those who died by an average of 30 years.

• excessive drinking was responsible for 1 in 10 deaths (1 in 10!!!) among working-age adults aged 20-64 years.

• The economic costs of excessive alcohol consumption in 2006 were estimated at $223.5 billion, or $1.90 a drink.

*I wrote this yesterday (without the requisite energy to push the “Publish” button). I feel a lot better today. No cold, no melancholy (although I can still taste it at the back of my throat). Told ya’ I’d rally…