R1T Tour: April 2023

Going Dry: A new lifestyle

I started April with sinus headaches and a cough deep in my chest from a heavy lingering cold in March. After listening to a Huberman Lab podcast on the deleterious effects of alcohol, I decided my recovery would speed up if I didn’t drink. April turned into a dry month.

I went to a rock concert, Tedeschi Trucks, without any drug induced influences probably for the first time. It was great and alcohol wasn’t missed maybe because Tedeschi Trucks is really good. I found a coping mechanism to stay dry, non alcoholic beer. It seems much of my drinking is habitual; go to grill a burger, grab a beer; conversation with friends before dinner, have a drink. For those habitual moments, I found NA beer a great substitute.

My brother, Tim, turned 60 and we celebrated for a few days at the disneyworld of golf, Pinehurst. He is a great golfer who managed to play 12 seasons in high school and college (ask me how if you want) and still has a passion for the game. He used to qualify for his college team at Pinehurst so it was a fond memory trip as well. His son, Michael, and his daughter, Melanie, joined us. Michael shares Tim’s passion and Melanie shares Tim’s college golfing experience. My brother is my best friend and I don’t spend enough time with him so this was as much a gift for me as a gift for him. Pinehurst was awesome. Golfing without 19th hole alcohol, novel.

Had some midwest time so took the R1T to Michigan to chase steelhead and to Wisconsin to fish the driftless. Shirtsleeves in Michigan and two days later 3 inches of snow and 40 degrees colder in Wisconsin.

Daughter, Emily, wanted to see her brother, Chris in San Francisco, for her birthday so we went. Her boyfriend, Zak, joined us and we did some hiking and fun touristy stuff. A personal highlight was cooking as a family, what a great new experience organized by Chris’s fiancé, Sophie.

Returned through Reno from San Francisco to see friends and golf, hike.

I have broken down and joined a private golf course, Naperville Country Club. My increased golfing and the crowdedness of Naperville area public golf made the decision. Started playing in April. It’s working out.

Over the month of April I felt better and better. My new found health convinced me to continue May alcohol free. Old dog, new tricks, not a thing.