They remembered the beer, but not the safety jackets
Amazing Antics: Stories of Alcoholism-Driven Behaviorsâ„¢
Story from “This is True”by Randy Cassingham, with his “tagline:â€
“THE DUH BOAT: Thomas Williams, 20, and two roommates decided to go rafting on the Colorado River near Vail, Colorado. Instead of hiring an experienced guide, they bought a blow-up raft from Wal-Mart. Instead of life jackets, they brought along a couple of 12-packs of beer. The river in the area they chose includes “Class III” rapids. An experienced guide saw their raft overturn and rescued them — barely. “I was under for so long I just blacked out,” Williams said, vowing he won’t go back on the river unless he’s properly prepared. On the other hand, he says, he seeks out thrilling sports such as skateboarding and bungee jumping. “If I didn’t do that stuff I’d be a lazy couch potato,” he said. (Vail Daily) …Give him another chance and he could be a mashed potato.”
“Engages in unnecessarily reckless behaviors”is the first clue listed in How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics: Using Behavioral Clues to Recognize Addiction in its Early Stages, in Chapter 5 under the category, “A Sense of Invincibility.”If any of these young men have triggered alcoholism, they likely did so by their middle-teen years and there have since been dozens or even hundreds of other clues to their addiction that close people have observed. We can’t know how many more chances they will have, but those who care about these men”who appear to have the judgment of young adolescents”would be doing everyone a favor by identifying the disease and intervening now, before it’s too late.
(Story and tagline from “This is True,”copyright 2006 by Randy Cassingham, used with permission. See http://www.thisistrue.com for free subscriptions.)