My Shovel

by Karen Sue

Karen Sue's drinking problem began when she moved into the dorm at college and started partying. Addiction held her in its grasp for twenty-four years, coloring everything she did, ruining relationships, and leading to brushes with the law. Central to Karen Sue's story is a sexual assault that occurred after she met a cute guy at a bar. What started out as a necking session in the man's pickup truck turned into a frightening date rape that knocked Karen Sue's life completely off kilter. After the assault, she hit the bottle even harder-trying to drown her shame and guilt and the sense that God was punishing her for her behavior. She drank so heavily that she racked up multiple citations for public intoxication and even spent time in jail. When Karen Sue was in her forties, counseling and painful self-reflection finally helped her embark on a healing journey. But even as she began to understand the causes of her destructive behavior, dark days threatened to rear their heads again. Fortunately, Karen Sue defeated her demons, and she hopes that by sharing her experiences and insights in My Shovel, she may help others wrestling with similar challenges.