Notes from my first sober guys weekend

How is being sober around friends that drink?

King Kong, wearing a flannel shirt, knocking over a tray of drinks

“Put out 20 shots of vodka, I can pick out the Ciroc”

This is my first sober guy’s weekend. I made the decision a week ago. Many factors, but one being the wreckage alcohol has caused in my life.

I’ve lost friends, family, relationships, not to mention thousands of dollars and hours of my life. At some point, you have to decide who you are.

I decided.

I’m with my oldest group of friends. We go back three decades.

It’s rare and beautiful to have friends you have known since preschool. We have been through many life events together - graduations, heart breaks.

There was a ten year stretch where, every year, someone had a fun surprise announcement - engagements, babies, promotions. It is a put together group of successful people, by any objective metric.

One thing that bound us together outside of school, sports, and age: alcohol