No Excuse

by Tom Shanahan

What's very interesting to me is that when you're raised with a violent abusive alcoholic you are the one who covers for him. If everyone knew your father was a drunk you would be humiliated. What is even more astounding is that when you hide it, all the fuckups you had as a teenager are your fault because you wouldn't reveal that your father was an abusive violent drunk. That would just bring you more shame. So not only are you a fuckup, but you fucked up all because of your own worthlessness. There is no context to your fuckupedness.

6S

Tom Shanahan is a retired lawyer and community college professor from Columbus, Ohio.