I'm spoiling a bit p17:
Dear Eiko,
I heard about today from your father.
Your father was crying as he was talking.
I was so happy, I cried, too.
Your father said that today was the happiest day in the seventy years of his life.
At dinner, although your father always drinks, he said that he didn’t want to ruin his
happy feeling by getting drunk. So, he didn’t drink today.
When are you coming home next?
I’m looking forward to it.
Mom
“My father, who never skipped drinking at dinner, didn’t drink...” Eiko thought. She
recalled the words that she had said to her father, and she realized just how happy
they made him – how much they filled his heart. She also wondered if it might have
been from loneliness that her father could not stop drinking, even when he was not
feeling well, until now.
This hit me like a brick.
My father stopped drinking something like 15 years ago (my parents relationship ended 20+ years ago, mostly / partly due to him drinking).
We always saw my father between once a week and once a month since then.
Comes 5-6 years ago with my brother's girlfriend and her family, all "heavy" drinkers during holidays and when we see each other.
First year my father didn't drink and everyone was like c'mon, just one...
Then he drank one glass, then two... then ... now he brings his own two litters of rosé wine at every gathering.
He's getting fat, his health is deteriorating ... This all correlates as during the last 5-6 years, we see each other AT MOST once a month.
And we never call each other.
So yeah he's pretty f***ing lonely.
We talked about it between my bro and sis, but we physically can't do much more to meet each other more.
Sh*t