I’ve been trying really hard to think of something liltingly Irish to lucky-charm you into the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. But that will have to wait.

I wanted to ignore the elephant in the news, the “tiger-blooded” man with “Adonis DNA” who is feasting on media attention to fuel his lust for lust.

Now, I usually try to heed the words of that great Disney philosopher “Thumper” that I learned as a child, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all.” And then I realized that I don’t have to say anything bad about Charlie Sheen. He does it all by himself. And I’m sad and a little humbled that he’s letting us watch.

For a few days I ignored all the malarkey. But this morning I saw some clips on television of his wild rants, and I realized I had seen it before: the face of an addict.

I’m speaking of Bernie, a long-time friend who has been addicted to who-knows-what for more than 20 years. If you watched the movie “The Fighter” you saw a good representation of our friend Bernie (in the real-life character of Dicky Eklund played by Christian Bale).

We’ve watched as Bernie has lost his wife and children, gone to jail, plunged into debt, and tried to tap in to his parents’ life savings. He’s gone through endless cycles of detox, rehab, and friendship with Jesus, all without surrender. Now he just lies in bed, smoking cigarettes and fighting through the phone with his longtime girlfriend who is just like him.

I want to cry when I see his gaunt face and hollow eyes. Even the hint of a smile reveals that he has few teeth left. If he tries to be sociable, he can’t stop moving or talking. He seldom has a job, and no one knows if he even tries.

He was a sweet, happy kid once upon a time, but now he’s gone. His body just hasn’t caught up. He is very, very weary and sad, and the same can be said for his loved ones. The only difference between Charlie and Bernie is that Charlie has the money to do anything he wants.

When Charlie Sheen began his latest escapades, my first thought was that it was a shame that so many people have glorified this man. But now I think he might be providing a public service. Just in case anyone has not lost a friend to addiction, this is what it looks like.

Most often when a celebrity self-destructs, you only hear rumors until they find his or her body in a trashed motel room. Charlie is now playing the most important role of his life, and it’s playing out in real time.

But Dicky Eklund, the true subject of “The Fighter” is alive and well. Perhaps, just maybe, Bernie and Charlie will make it. The last minute is still time.

Patty Luzzi has lived on the Eastside for 33 years. Readers can contact her at pattyluzzi@yahoo.com.