I’ve never been drunk in my life. I’m not bragging about that, because while I have other weaknesses, drinking has never been a strong temptation for me. Therefore I’ve never understood why people intentionally get intoxicated nor have I ever understood what it’s like to be in a drunken stupor.
This past week I had an experience that gave me some degree of insight. For the past few weeks my wife and I have been staying with my son Rusty and his family in Port Charlotte Florida. Wednesday morning I got up early to prepare for a men’s Bible study I was scheduled to lead at a nearby resort area. As I went through my morning routine I accidentally took an Ambien pill.
I am so blessed with good health that, even though I’m seventy years old, I only take two pills each day – a baby aspirin and a cholesterol pill. Occasionally when I have difficulty sleeping, I will take Ambien, a prescribed sedative, and it always knocks me out for four hours. Somehow one of those Ambien pills got mixed in the bottle with the cholesterol pills and at 6:30 a.m. last Wednesday I accidentally took a strong sedative.
About twenty minutes later my son found me asleep at the breakfast table. While I’m notorious for afternoon naps, I’m usually very alert in the morning. When Rusty tried to awaken me he became concerned about my strange behavior. My speech was a little garbled and I stumbled as I got up from the table.
He became concerned that perhaps I was having a stroke. As he asked me probing questions I smiled and assured him, ‘I am just fine. I’m just a little groggy.”
Although I don’t remember it, he asked, “Dad, what’s your name?” He says I got the goofiest smile on my face and responded, “Puddin Tame!” That sounds like something Barney Fife would say! But Rusty insists that’s how I answered.
Now even more concerned, Rusty suggested maybe I shouldn’t go to the Bible study. “No! I’m okay,” I protested. “Well, I’m going to drive you,” he insisted.
“No. That’s silly. I’m perfectly alright. I can drive myself.” And off I went, not knowing that my son was so concerned that he followed me.
I remember being groggy. I remember seeing the oncoming cars in double. I recall rubbing my eyes and driving off the right side of the road and then weaving back on. I remember thinking, ‘Oh, brother. If that’s Rusty following me, he’s probably really concerned now but he shouldn’t be.”
When I missed my turn and had to drive around the block to get my bearings, Rusty phoned me to give directions. Somehow I didn’t really question why he knew I’d taken a wrong turn or why he was directly behind me. It somehow seemed normal.
When I finally got to the Bible study I stumbled and fell up the steps. I remember thinking, “Now someone is going to tell Rusty about this and he’ll make a big deal out of nothing. Everyone falls once in a while.”
When the Bible study began the adrenalin started flowing and I became more alert. Good thing. A former mayor of Cleveland sat on my left and a former U.S. Senator from Florida was on my right. They didn’t need being led in Bible study by a man under the influence. I don’t remember the Bible study much but the host assured me I did fine.
When I got home I didn’t understand why Judy kept asking me how I was feeling. All I knew was that I was extremely worn out and my afternoon nap lasted an hour and a half. When I woke up and Rusty replayed the day’s experience, including calls to doctors, I reviewed my morning routine and only then realized I had taken the wrong pill.
Although I don’t understand why anyone wants to intentionally feel like that, I now have a tiny window of understanding into how a drunk must feel.
I was relaxed. Even though I was about to teach a Bible study to a group of very influential people there was no tension.
I was funny. At least I thought I was funny because I said something that made my son laugh. How clever to say, “Puddin Tame” when asked my name. I didn’t realize he was laughing at me, not with me.
I was impaired and didn’t know it. I was seeing double and drove the car off the side of the road. That was endangering the lives of others but I thought I was doing just fine.
I was a source of concern to others in the family. In addition to talking to doctors, Rusty talked to my wife and called his brother Phil to share his concern. It was Phil, a policeman who had seen numerous people in that condition, who suggested maybe I’d accidentally taken a sedative.
I was in denial. Later that evening when Rusty unfolded how I had acted in the morning, I didn’t believe him. I didn’t remember it. At first I insisted he was exaggerating. Only when I put the puzzle together did I realize I had been way out of character without realizing it.
Bottom line lessons?
(1) Stay sober and self-controlled. The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. Why take into your body a substance the first effect of which is to weaken the will?
(2) Pay attention to the counsel of family and friends. When those who love you become concerned about your irrational behavior, listen to what they have to say. Swallow your pride and admit you may have a problem even though you don’t think you do.
(3) When people tell you, you aren’t in a condition to drive, be smart enough to listen. The next day Rusty said, “Dad, I hope I don’t have to have this conversation with you again for another 20 years but next time I insist you not drive, I want you to promise to take my advice.”
Good counsel. Because sons don’t let their dads drive drunk.
