Hi all!!

I now need your help about another matter. Different people altogether.

I have a friend who lives around the corner. Known her for 17 years. She nips (everyone knows it but we say nothing because she lost her son on 9/11).

However, her husband is an alcoholic. And they do drink and drive.

Well tonight..something happened and I need some input as to whether or not I did the right thing.

Here's what happened.

I'm walking down the block (going back to my home), and my other friend says 'who is in that car, he's been in that car for one hour with the car running".

I said "I'll check it out on my way to my home".

Well, as I pass, I see it's my friend's husband and he's sound asleep in the car (with the motor running and all the windows closed).

I said to myself 'didn't I read where a person is not supposed to be in the car with the windows rolled up and the motor is on??"

I began to walk to my house around the corner when I said "Oh shoot, you can't just leave him in the car, what if he dies".

So I gingerly walked up to the car and rapped on the window. No reaction. I pounded on the door, no reaction. I did it a few times and he opened his eyes and I knew immediately he was completely soused. And I mean completely.

I said brightly "hi there, I just want to make sure you are okay"

He rolled down the window and I immediately knew he had the air conditioner blasting in the car. It's 90 here in Brooklyn, NY. Also, he didn't know me. He didn't know where he was.

I said "please turn off your car" He didn't understand me. I again said "Please turn off your car". and he said "why??"

I then said "well, I don't want you falling asleep again with the motor running, I don't think it's safe, and you might wake up tomorrow with a dead battery".

He just looked at me (he never picked up his head off of his chest), and he turned off the ignition.

He then said 'okay???" and I said 'Terrific". I then said "are you coming, or going??" He then tried to point to his house.

I said 'Oh, you're going inside??" and he nodded.

I then opened up the driver's side door and said 'okay, why not just go into the house and go to sleep (this was 8 P.M.)

He said "okay". I said goodbye, continued walking, and I looked back.

He closed the door again, turned on the car (well the lights were on) and just stayed there.

I honestly did not know what to do.

I know he's okay because the air conditioning was on, and every night his son walks their giant German Shephard, and other people are on this block. It's well trafficked.

I really did what I could.

I won't mention this to his wife, I would never want to embarrass her. She knows he drinks, there are always beer cans all over the house, so EVERYBODY drinks. It got worse after 9/11.

So did I do everything I should have done?

I want to know just in case I run into this again.

Thanks very much.

Melody