I stopped drinking alcohol about 20 years ago. It was like losing my best friend. Nothing to confide in and nothing to help me hide from reality. I told myself I was not dependent on it even though I drank every day. I never drank before 6pm and only after 5pm on the weekends. I opened with a beer or two (or 3 or 4 !!)and finished with a hommage to Jack Daniels. It was good enough for Sinatra so it was good enough for me

Jack said hold me close
I’ll keep you steady til its time to go
Drink my embers I’ll give you fire
All you need is what you desire

Little bit of loving little bit of hate
Its a mystery that you complicate
I am the teacher you are the fools
You will have no chance to stab my rules
You have the smooth skin I have the touch
You sing Ed Sheeran but not too much

Sweet and tender silk and hair
Takes me back to here and there
Days of pleasure nights of bliss
Chances taken more chances missed

No room for martyrs at our table
Only the strong willing and able
You have your secrets I will unravel
And throw you down before we travel
Out to the highway the night it beckons
I’m never gonna learn lifes lessons

A glass for you a glass for me
This is the perfect remedy
Warming the heart increasing the passion
Needing direction hoping for fashion
But there’s no winning against the bottle
It always ends up betrayed and rotten
Despite your best try and solemn promise
Every night ends in pools of vomit

I’ve been so high so low
Yes I’ve been so high and so low