Had a surprise visit from my son this past week

[Rorey]

I hadn't seen him in a little over three years, and on Tuesday, while I was out, he called and said he and his girlfriend were standing on my porch. I don't really like surprises, but of course any of my family is always welcome at my house.

So, he left today. He was here four nights and drank four magnums of wine - one each night. He's been doing this for years. He's an adult, so he can make his own decisions. He has told me in the past that he only drinks wine, so it won't hurt him (his opinion). Of course I know better. Also, btw, I know that the magnum bottles were just for him. His girlfriend drank a regular-sized bottle each night.

My other adult kids all commented that their brother is swollen. I noticed right away that his abdomen is protruding. I know there's nothing I can do. In the past I've pretty much begged him to at least cut back, and he won't. I finally accepted that it does no good to beg. The nightly consumption isn't just when he's on vacation. He freely admits that he does it every night. He has held the same job for a long time, but he also gets injured a lot, and it's no mystery why that happens.

So all I can do is sit by while my son slowly kills himself. I'll always love him, as I do all of my family, but this is tough.