Tagay Tuba

On one of the shows, they had an expert give some guidance and tips on "How to Cope at the Wine Shop". I started laughing because I grew up running to stores to buy "Usa Ka Tipo" for Lola. I hated it - especially if it was dark at night - this was before electricity came to Catmon. But Lola liked her tuba. Have to admit - real good tuba tastes like champagne. No lie!

From my current position, education and life experience, I feel sad and more sympathetic about Lola Bette's plight and the other victims of the disease, Alcoholism is a disease. This disease has a biological, psychological and social component.

Genetic components make some folks more prone to the disease. So the prevention strategy that works best is complete abstinence. The younger the exposure to alcohol the higher the risk for the disease.

Psychological stress and issues can heighten the risk of disease. Often times people use alcohol to relieve psychological pain and stress. Anger, emptiness,loneliness, abandonment issues, grief issues, etc. can lead people to self medicate with alcohol and other drugs to ease if not forget the pain.

Non-judgemental, open, supportive conversations and the acquisition of coping skills are some of the healing and prevention strategies that are proven to have worked. This is one of the reasons why Alcoholics Anonymous is the most effective and successful strategy in the world.

The social component is composed of the family and friends around the individual. "Birds of a Feather, Flock Together" is the operative saying. Peer pressure, the need to be accepted and looked upon as "Cool" play a huge part. The strategy to use in prevention is to vary the people around you.

Alcoholism is a family disease. It has a reach of at least 7 generations, even with interventions and complete abstinence. Nobody wakes and decide "I think I am going to be an alcoholic today." The craving and need to drink, when the disease is full blown is completely involuntary. To stop "cold tureky" can be very dangerous.

Incidentally, if you search for "Montecillo" in the web. The majority of the hits is for Montecillo wines from Bodegas Montecillo. The origins are from the Ebro River Valley, South of Barcelona, Spain. If part of our ancestry originated from there, this makes us a high risk family!

So go figure!