Another year, another St. Patrick's Day. A nice quite one for me again. I've been done with going out for the holiday for many years now. I enjoy celebrating at home wearing a little bit of green to keep with tradition and drink a few beers. Stout beers! Not green beer. And a glass of whiskey.
This year, there were about four hundred DWI/DUI arrests in the Twin Cities, up from three hundred fifty (roughly) last year. Which is good and bad. The police staged more DWI checkpoints. This is an awesome initiative by the police to try and deter drinking and driving. It's not awesome because of how many people still found it necessary to go drink and drive. The numbers went up despite the fact that it was well advertised that there were more cops on the road. I cannot preach down to everyone on drinking and driving. I have, ashamedly, left the bar more than a few times and gotten behind the wheel even though I knew I shouldn't have. Those were the days of going out to not only get drunk, but to have a little bit more fun than was necessary. Now? I go out to socialize with friends and co-workers. Gone are the days of drinking to get drunk. Here are the days of drinking because I am enjoying the taste of beer and enjoying the company.
So what changed? What changed in me that I wanted to be, you know, responsible? Luckily, I never was pulled over or injured anyone. I never wanted to push my luck when it comes to this situation so I have taken it upon myself to be responsible. How mature of me, right? The easiest way to deal with it is with the help of my wife. She doesn't drink. Even one drink makes her sick so she just stopped drinking alcohol. No better way to get home responsibly than to use a designated driver, plus mine I don't have to pay for. And I do not take advantage of her driving. I don't go out and get shitfaced just because I don't have to drive home. That's not my style anymore. And even if she did drink, I would be more than happy to alternate who gets to drink and who drives home.
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