Living with an alcoholic

Former nevada resident shares her story in new book.

Living with an alcoholic is difficult and trying, so is life after living with an alcoholic. Jesse Barnes knows how hard it can be. She lived that life for many years before divorcing her alcoholic husband. Barnes recently wrote a book about her experiences, "Vodka and Roses." Barnes, whose maiden name is Pinkman, is a graduate of the Nevada High School Class of 1957. The book is published by Jagged Corner Press, Don Carlson publisher.

Barnes said she took her experiences and fictionalized them so the book wouldn't cause undue embarrassment to anyone.

"It's based on true life stories of an alcoholic but it's been fictionalized," Barnes said. "There's no reason to cause anyone pain."

Barnes wants the book to help others understand what life can be like when living with an alcoholic.

"I think people who read it will both laugh and cry," Barnes said. "That's OK. I want people to know what it's like and that shows they're paying attention.

Barnes said alcoholics have a hard time pulling themselves away from drinking, even when they experience serious and life-threatening consequences.

"It just gets too much of a hold on them and they just never let go," Barnes said. "My husband went to rehab two times after our divorce and had a heart attack the year before he died and he still didn't quit. When your an alcoholic the bottle makes you a slave."

Barnes said she wrote the book while writing other material.

"It took about a year to write it," Barnes said. "I took some time off and wrote some other things and then went back to it."

Barnes said she had fond memories of Nevada and recalled how people acted differently when she lived here in the '50s.

"I grew up on Olive street, 402 South Olive," Barnes said. "We lived across from the Normans who had the sheet metal company. Us kids would go all over town. The Square was the hub of everything back then, Saturdays were always busy. We called it trading day. There would be trucks lined up there around the courthouse lawn with all sorts of produce and things. It was the time when everyone went out to see everyone else."

Barnes now lives in Atchison, Kan., and said Nevada seemed to be doing much better than her adopted town.

"Nevada is growing, growing, growing," Barnes said. "It's just amazing what Cottey has done. Atchison is dying. It's like a lot of small towns, the kids move out and things go downhill. I still like Nevada. I have classmates there and I visit once or twice a year. I was there earlier this year for my class's 50th reunion."

Barnes said anyone wishing to purchase the book can write to her at: Jessie Barnes, P.O. Box 291, Atchison, KS 66002. The price is $15, shipping included.