Ch-ch-ch-changes

Have you ever realized that you needed to make a change in your life? You know, a change like ending a friendship, getting a new job, or even updating your wardrobe? Every once in a while, we need to do this. It keeps us renewed, replenished and just simply aware of what's going on in our own lives. I decided it's time to make a change, and this is how I come upon this realization.

A co-worker asked me if I'd like to join a few others in drinks after work. I love a good happy hour so I readily agreed. The evening started out simply enough with cocktails celebrating the new Sex and The City movie. They had four signature cocktails inspired by the movie and although I didn't want to try all of them, I certainly was happy to sample a couple of them. And sample I did.

At last count, I had drank five cocktails. Mind you, I lost count at this point and you can bet I probably had more than those five. Two of the others had left and it was just me and the co-worker that had extended the invitation. We made our way over to another spot with drink specials. My memory at this point just stops and I have absolutely no recollection of what happened at the second spot. It returns later in the evening with me standing by the side of the road waiting for the bus. Of course, that bus wasn't coming. It was well after 1am, and they stop running at 12:30am.

I remember sitting to collect my thoughts and see several cabs drive by. That's it! I'll get a cab. My only other option is to walk up the hill, which is the only way for me to get home. There is no way I can navigate the high-grade, extremely winding road. I run across the street where I see the cabs coming from. A car halts directly in front of me.

Two men are in the car and they ask me if I need a ride. I say no, I'm going to get a cab. Apparently, I was quite intoxicated because they continued to ask me if I wanted a ride, even if just to the cab-stand. Once again, I decline. These two gentleman spoke to me in thick Russian accents. I had no idea who they are and I briefly imagine my own death at their hands. I start to walk away when one of them tells me they are genuinely concerned for my well-being. I finally accept.

They give me a ride home, which takes less than five minutes. I ask them to stop at an ATM so I can at least give them some cash for the ride. They do that, I give them $10, I go inside and presumably, they go home. In the morning, I awake to text messages from my co-worker asking me if I made it home alright, am I alive, and "way to disappear". I had no idea what she was talking about. A week or so later, she asked me to meet her at the second spot again, and I had to ask a friend where it was. Despite me being there for a few hours before, I had absolutely no idea where it was.

Folks, this was not good. I drank to excess, so much so that I don't remember a large block of time. I accepted a ride with complete strangers. I'm no spring chicken, I'm a woman by all definitions. But clearly, alcohol wasn't doing me any good. I knew I had to cut down drastically.

Since then, I've gone to plenty of happy hours. But I stop at my four-drink maximum. If I'm with VERY good friends, or my boyfriend, I pay less attention to this number. But when I'm with co-workers or acquaintances, I stick to it with a vengeance. I can't trust myself so I set limits and stick to them. I was told recently that I don't have an addictive personality and I thank heaven for that.

I realized I needed to make a change, and I made it. If I can do inventory on my own life from time to time, or even if something hits me like a ton of bricks, I know I can act accordingly and straighten myself out. Can you?