Fantasy

Fantasy: An unreal mental image; illusion; phantasm.

The world of reality -- the real world where real people live -- can be such an unpleasant place. There are difficulties in the real world, and pain and challenges. People get sick. There is death and tragedy and traffic jams and bosses who are jerks. Bad things roam the horizon with slavering jaws.

Then there is the world of the practicing alcoholic. We take a drink and close our eyes. The girl says yes and we don't have to comb our hair or brush our teeth. The kids are no problem at all. The money and prestige at work roll in effortlessly -- we don't even have to have a job or do any work at the jobs we may hold. We're always on vacation and it never rains.

Ah, yes, I can drift off into a pleasant reverie at the drop of a hat. Then my sponsor delivers a stinging slap to my face: "Horse Face Steve! Snap out of it. You're late for work!"