April 2, 2000 ~ Drunken Danger

We've started working out. I've never done that before. Li and I had been talking over spring break about the fact that she is starting a new diet. I said that maybe she ought to exercise as well, and, well, to make a long story short, I am her work-out partner, along with Morgan. I certainly don't need to lose any weight, I think I'm underweight as it is, but it would be really nice to stop getting winded just walking up a hill. My goal is just overall healthy, nothing in specific. I used to be very active; I was nature girl. Backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, swimming... Now, however, it seems I am getting weighted down in academia, and have simply not had the time to do everything that I would normally do. My body is showing it. Anyway, we went Thursday night, and we are going again tonight. We are going to try to make it in every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday night for some aerobic and weight training.

Morgan and I went out with Li and Phillip on Friday night. We first went to The Dragon for dinner, and it was delicious. Phillip and Morgan tried their best to outdo one another in the grossness factor in over-dinner conversation. Next, we went to the theater to see Ninth Gate, and Lisa got us all in for free (she works at another of the theaters in the chain). All the antique books were beautiful, but the plot was fairly predictable, and the ending was awful. It was an okay movie; I'm just glad I didn't pay $7 to see it.

I was going to go to Quaker Meeting today with Li, but she is just too tired. It's understandable. She was up late last night, and the night before (Friday) was awful for her. She left our company around 12:15 Friday night and went back over to he dorm, intending to go to bed. Talking to someone in the hall, however, sidetracked her.

At about 12:45, a girl came staggering in, very drunk and very sick, promptly passing out. She dragged the girl upstairs to her room and got her ready for bed as she slipped in and out of consciousness. When Li finally got her into bed, she fell out, hit her head on a rabbit cage, and stopped breathing. She started again. She stopped. She breathed... then stopped.

Li called her mother.

"Get her to a hospital."

Li acquired the help of Megan, and, with difficulty, they carried her to Li's car. She went into de-tox. Li didn't get to bed until a quarter of five. At eight a.m., she got the "you can pick her up now," call. After several hours of puking and being very sick, the girl's blood-alcohol level was still at TWO PERCENT. That's as high as some beers. Drinking her blood, even at that point, would still get you drunk. Li brought her home, and left her in her dorm room with some broth, soda crackers, and a kidney bowl to continue puking in. She probably would have died if Li hadn't been out in the hall when she was. Li is a good person. She didn't have to care, but she did.

I suppose drinking is a problem at any college... But it just makes me sick to see how often it screws people up here. I do not drink. In my entire life, I have had nothing more than a few sips of wine at a Jewish Passover celebration. I don't drink. And I never will, seeing what it has done to so many here. What the Hell is so inviting about losing the ability to think straight, hold your stomach, act responsibly, see well, and walk in a straight line? "Oh, it loosens you up and relaxes your body." I can relax on my own free will, I don't need to drink poison to do so. "It acts as an aphrodisiac." Uh, sure. It really helps when the person you are trying to seduce is passing out and has to take breaks to run to the bathroom and puke. I'm sure that is a very special, intimate experience.

I have always highly valued my self-control. I have a great deal of it. I will not take anything into my body that will in any way impede my ability to help someone who is in need. You never know when something might happen which will ask you to act quickly, clearly, responsibly, and logically. Even if you have just a small about of alcohol, you are less able to respond than you normally would be capable of. Not to mention that it is addictive and it kills you. It causes so many people to do stupid things.

I will never drink. I could never justify such a selfish, irresponsible action. I can find relaxation and "fun" in ways that do not impede my ability to respond to the world around me.

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