Today I met a student I had taught who had become a friend and who was very supportive last year when step mom A was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, she died in November 08. Her daughter has just been diagnosed with a very malignant melanoma and when I met her and her three friends they had opened a bottle of Jacob creek to by the way "celebrate something", it was to dull the pain of this awful news that Margaret is living with, I refused to drink explaining that I was driving home and so did my colleague, who really tried to give good advice on treatment as she had experience but was totally ignored on same.  but I felt like crying, because Margaret is a wonderful woman with a lot in front of her and though I did not say it, it would be a lot easier to deal with without alcohol, it just does not help a bad situation, send on prayers, her daughter is 26. I suspect Margaret drinks a bit to avoid situations, I watch this because I used to do that too but am aware of same now and avoid doing so,