This may seem like a small thing, but when you've had years, well decades, of trouble with alcohol, and assorted drugs, this is an event in itself.

My sister, Robin, and I always went Trick or Treating as children, of course. Later, we went our own way with our lives. Later still, we got together again to Trick or Treat, or rather, celebrate Halloween. Celebrate by getting roaring drunk, going to all the parties, dancing, dressing up, having a lot of laughs, the whole nine. Still I always managed to have great fun and made a party every place I went.

The very first November the 1st that I woke up withOUT a hangover was cause for even bigger celebration that Halloween. I'm certainly not schooling anyone about drinking or drugging. It wasn't just my pass time; it was my lifestyle. I was perpetually drunk and stoned while going to college, raising a family and keeping a decent job, and half-assed pulled some of it off.

So I still pause to reflect and pat myself on the back each Nov 1 that passes and finds me drawing another sober breath. And it's alright if I'm not setting the world on fire. I'm happy just to be in the race.