WAUSAU -- Like many alcoholics, Kirk Pelot used to think alcohol was his best friend. But, now he realizes in the long run it is his enemy.
"I have kids that won't talk to me. I got grand kids that I haven't met. It's a high price tag and I'm not talking monetary. It's a very high price tag for me. When I was drinking I didn't remember New Years Eve's or Christmas' or my birthday. I didn't know what happened. I would be black out," says Kirk.
Now, remembering is Kirk's motivation to stay sober.
"I wake up the next morning and I'm like woohoo I made it again and there's a reward in that. Waking up the next morning and I'm not in jail and I'm not hungover. I'm not sick. I still got some money in my pocket. I didn't give it all to the bartender so there are a lot of positives for me staying sober during New Years Eve," says Kirk.
This coming New Years will be Kirks 11th sober; something he and his friends are very proud of.
"For Kirk early on he had some really tough holiday seasons and a lot of regrets, but he's doing super now. I'm very proud of him for that," says Linda Larson-Schlitz of Randlin Homes.
It has taken the support of people like Linda and her husband Ralph, also recovering alcoholics, to help Kirk stay sober.
"If you look at 6 months or a year it's too overwhelming, it's a one day at a time program. It is sometimes I know for me when I quit drinking it was a one minute at a time," says Linda.
And for Kirk it is one Holiday at a time.
"I made it through Christmas sober and I know I'll make it through this New Years Eve sober," says Kirk.
