I was in Liquorland this afternoon. Lib asked me to buy her a sixpack of Carlton Draught stubbies and some wine while Gord and I were out shopping. I was a little disappointed, as Lib had done a dry November and I hoped she'd go on with it and join me down the alcohol-free path.
I bought two bottles of Reisling and a couple of reds as well as the Carl Draught and was approaching a queue of people at the checkout. A bloke pushing a trolley came from a different angle and I gestured to him to go ahead of me. He looked at my armful and said, "Party at your house tonight?"
"No, this is for my wife, I gave up drinking alcohol a few years ago. Glad I did, it's a costly habit."
"Never mind the money," he said, "It's no good for you either, healthwise.
"You're dead right there I replied, I suppose I'm a lot better off in that regard too."
He was a friendly sort of bloke. He looked about my age, probably older I thought, and he didn't look too well. Rough skin in the face, poor complexion really, grey hair and moustache, a bit scruffy looking. "How old are you, if you don't mind me asking? If you are like me you started drinking in your teens, so have been drinking for a long time."
He said, "I'm 63, I started drinking young too. I went to the doctor yesterday, my liver readings were not good. I've got cirrhosis of the liver." He was then called to the counter. A second service person arrived so we were being served at the same time and as I finished, he said, "See you mate."
I was glad that I've reached 71 in good health. I felt sorry for him as he walked out with his trolley containing a carton of beer and two two litre casks of red. I'm happy to stick to my Coopers AF beer, one a day. A six pack of that is $9 tastes great once your taste buds adapt. The Carl Draught sixpack was $22. I drink alcohol free wine which I buy on special usually for $8.50 a bottle. One glass a day, a bottle does about 5 days.
