The bad part came when my drinking got worse during this time. The years from 1972 through 1979 were not a good time for my family. United airlines were the first ones that told me I had to do something about my drinking. They sent me to Sequoia hospital for 30 days.

I went through that program, came out, and after about six weeks I was drinking again.

The next time I went in I had the D-T’s. I think Mary took me into the hospital and this time I listened a little better. I stayed sober for one year. United airlines, thank god, stayed with me. They didn’t kick me out and they could have.

Mary and I used to be in a square dance club. Everyone in the club knew I was a recovering alcoholic. One night we were at a dance and I drink two beers and passed out. Boom! I couldn’t handle alcohol anymore. From that day forward and learn that me and alcohol or not a good mix.

I went into alcoholics anonymous and had sponsors who got me through the first year. I stayed with the program and I’ve been sober ever since.

Alcoholism has been the biggest regret of my life. I’ve missed my children’s high school years and stuff like that. It wasn’t easy for them. I was the same monster that my father was.

It’s been very hard on Mary. During those first three years while I was trying to get sober my emotions were so raw that we would have a lot of fights. But we got through it and I started getting sober. Not just dry, but sober.

Since that time we’ve done a lot of good things. We’ve been to Europe and Paris, London.

The kids didn’t do too badly. Alcoholism runs in our family said two of my three sons are alcoholics. They also went through alcoholics anonymous and have been sober for about half as long as I have.

My other son will not touch alcohol. He saw enough of it in me and his brothers. He won’t touch it; he has good sense.

John, my number one son is a carpenter; a damned good carpenter. My number two sun went to Sonoma state university and became a geologist. Colleen went through San Francisco state, UC Davis, and got a master’s degree in social work from Colombia. Two am also became a carpenter. John taught him the ropes and he is on his own now. Our baby is now 38; she went to California state university at Northridge. She became a physical therapist and has a master’s degree from the University of Southern California.

The family’s doing pretty well; we have fun. We get together at Christmas and thanksgiving. Almost every summer we have a reunion with my family or Mary’s family. We stay in contact.

It was a good life; a good life except for the alcohol.