My great-great grandfather William Hicks was a member of Pisgah Christian Church just outside of my hometown of Ripley, Ohio. From the church's meeting minutes in the 1850's, I read how William was called before the church's board to answer charges of "walking disorderly," a polite way of saying being drunk! My great-grandfather Arch Hicks Sr. continued down same path of drinking, but gave it up during the last years of his life. They were deceased before I was born.
For the first nine years of my life, I did get to know and love my grandfather Arch Jr. He was a well-known, respected, and admired lawyer and leader in southern Ohio were I was raised. Intellectually brilliant, he became the youngest law school graduate ever from Ohio State University - graduating at age 21. He did so much for people in our southern Ohio community. He was revered by all who knew him. Unfortunately, he had the same downfall as my other grandfathers - he was addicted to alcohol.
His daughter, my mother had watched how the disease took his life by age 59. Growing up in our home, not a drop of alcohol was allowed. My dad rarely drank and so this was not a big deal. I did see firsthand how the effects of growing up with an alcoholic father negatively impacted my mom.
Last week, I decided to attend my first Al-Anon meeting. "Al-Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking."
I can't share anything from the meeting as confidentiality is of the upmost importance. Here are a few take-aways from my experience. First, I was uncomfortable going to the meeting, but every effort was made to make me feel at ease. Second, I have always had much respect for the 12 Steps program and experiencing them at a meeting, only served to strengthen my belief in them. Third, I want to help people in my life who struggle with this disease and I think Al-Anon has something to teach me. To find an Al-Anon meeting in the Quad Cities, contact the 24 hour answering line at 563-323-1521.
