Psychologically Genetic

Now, I completely understand that this is probably not a real scientific or medical term. Forget about trying to prove to me why it can't be possible. I get that. But the phrase makes sense to me...and really, in MY blog, that's all that matters.

Follow me here:
I have an older brother. He is an alcoholic. His biological father was an alcoholic. My brother only lived with his biological father for a couple of years, maybe three. There is alcoholism in our mother's family; her brother and father. Although we did not grow up in a home of alcoholism, we were occasionally exposed to the behavior.

I believe alcoholism, or the tendency for it, is hereditary. I understand that children of alcoholics are pre-disposed to the disease. All of that makes sense to me.

But here are my questions:

*If someone came from alcoholism, but didn't know it (maybe they were adopted), and was raised in a home without alcoholism, what are that odds that they would become an alcoholic?
*If someone KNOWS they come from a history of alcoholism, are the odds more in favor of them becoming an alcoholic, even if they weren't exposed to it on a regular basis? And if the odds are higher, wouldn't that be psychologically genetic? "I come from an alcoholic, so I must be doomed to be one."
*What's the difference between the children, from the same parents, who become alcoholics and those that don't? How is my mother not an alcoholic, but her brother was? How is my biological father not an alcoholic, but both of his brothers are?
*I understand that someone can become an alcoholic because of psycological reasons. What are the odds that someone who didn't come from alcoholism becomes an alcoholic?

The statistics don't matter, in the big picture, because I still believe that no matter what genes we have, alcoholic or not, we are each still responsible for our own behavior. And it drives me crazy when alcoholism is used as a crutch and an excuse for stupid behavior.
There, I said it.

Blueberries and Golden Sunrises...

This was the next to the last weekend for blueberry picking at Blueberry Hill Farms in Edom, Texas. That cinched it...we are going blueberry picking! In years past, we have bought pounds of fresh blueberries straight from the farm, but had never picked them ourselves. We LOVE fresh blueberries so I decided this would be a great adventure.

Now, I have been known to come up with some GREAT plans that begin in the wee hours of the morning, only to decide when the early morning alarm goes off, that it wasn't such a great idea. "Never mind...We'll go later." This time was different. You see, 'Watch a beautiful sunrise' is #32 on my 40 by 40 list. The blueberry fields open at 7a.m. And it's DANG hot here during the day. So here's my plan: We get up really early, around 4:20 a.m. (for those of you who don't know me, I don't usually see 4:30 a.m. unless I've been up all night), we'll be on the other side of Dallas when the sun rises (#32 complete with photo op), blueberry picking around 7:00 a.m when they open, and done before it gets too freakin' hot. (I don't DO hot!) What a great plan! I got everything prepared last night so all I had to do was drag...err, I mean float, out of bed at 4:20, wake the boys, get dressed and hit the road. Yee Haw!

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My son has my wit. When I woke that little sweetie up at 4:30 and gently told him it's time to go pick blueberries, he asked "Can't we just by them at Sam's?" That's my boy!
My husband is such a good sport. He just goes along with all my cockamamie plans and never complains. We hit the road just after 5:00 a.m. He drives so I can put on my makeup...that's VERY important when blueberry picking. Psh








Sure enough, we are out of the cities when the sun starts to rise. Absolutely amazing! Hubby pulls over on the side of the highway so I can take pictures, twice.
#32 ~ Watch an amazing sunrise. Done. And thank you God for that pleasure.



On the road to Blueberry Hill, we come across a cow in the road. No worries though...She was only checking the mail.


We finally reach Blueberry Hill and we are the first ones there! We picked blueberries and a handfull of blackberries (that's all that was left) until it got too hot outside.




The folks at Blueberry Hill Farms were genuinely kind and very helpful. We shopped around the country store and made our delightful purchases...Somewhere around 16 pounds of blueberries, Cherry-Blueberry Preserves and a fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffin. Blueberry goodness!





And that ends our blueberry and sunrise adventure. It was a great experience for us. And I can say, "Our hands are the only hands that have touched these blueberries." (this makes total sense to those of you who know me)




P.S. We did take detours on the way home, but that's another blog for another day. I LOVE detours!