Family says Al-Anon holiday was best ever

Published 10:34 pm Saturday, December 13, 2008

The holiday season often brings out the best in people, even when circumstances are especially difficult.

Pamela Hartson, pseudonym for the wife of a problem drinker, regretted the ordeal that followed the loss of her husband’s job, which led to the bank’s foreclosure on their house. The holiday season was especially painful because she hated to disappoint her four children.

In the U.S. there are 18 million problem drinkers, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. According to commonly accepted health care provider estimates, each alcoholic adversely affects the lives of an estimated four to 10 people. More than 70 million Americans are affected.

“I went to an Al-Anon family group meeting because a counselor recommended it,” Hartson said. “Because of our dilemma, I didn’t know how to handle our day-to-day needs, let alone my children’s high hopes for presents and parties. The counselor thought Al-Anon members who had been through similar challenges might inspire me to take steps to help myself.

“At my first Al-Anon family group meeting I met a woman who invited everyone in the group to a bonfire party on her property,” Hartson said. “She and her husband owned a Christmas tree farm. She said if we brought an ax, we could pick a tree and take it home with us.

“Our children still remember that experience as one of the best holidays they ever had,” she continued. “We sang carols, drank hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows over the fire. People told stories about their favorite family celebrations. No one said anything about expensive gifts or elaborate decorations.

“Later, I found out the Al-Anon member who gave us the party and a tree had been generous despite her situation, not because of it,” said Hartson. “She and her husband were losing their tree farm as a result of alcoholism. She chose to share what she had while she had it because it cheered her up. Needless to say, her example inspired me to continue attending Al-Anon family group meetings. I wanted the kind of attitude she had.”

More than 14,000 Al-Anon family groups meet every week throughout the U.S. and Canada to welcome families and friends who have been affected by someone else’s drinking. For information about an Al-Anon meeting in Dalton or surrounding areas, call Cathy at (706) 217-5953 or during business hours call (888) 4AL-ANON. On the Internet, go to www.Al-AnonFamilyGroups.org.