A Word on Alcohol...

So one of my very best friends is getting married- and so of course that means meeting new people and her new family. Amazing the kinds of people you discover you've never met before. People from other states or countries, people from all walks of life, people of different religions, people who don't drink....

Whoa-waitwaitwait, wha?

Yeah. For real. And I don't mean a 90 year old Bible thumper either. I have met a gorgeous young woman who doesn't drink at all. And that is the craziest talk I have ever heard.

That's like saying, "Sex? No thank you- I don't have sex."

"Air? Oh no, really. I'm fine, but thank you."

Seriously? I assure you I am not an alcoholic by any means- I can even find people who will vouch for me. But the thought of never drinking EVER... That would drive me into a mental institution. I get that everyone has their thing. Some dumbasses have to smoke pot to relax, some people must smoke cigarettes. But never a glass of wine (or seven) at a party? Not a lemon drop martini on a hot summer night? Not a Jager bomb after a few glasses of whiskey?

Drinks are like lovers... You get to choose which you are in the mood for on any given night. You think about them, crave them, then lovingly wrap your hands around them and slowly take that first taste... You can take them slowly, savoring each sip- making it last longer, or you can take it quickly, barely taking the time to enjoy the flavor, but getting satisfaction immediately.

If you don't want to be with the same drink all night, try another one- or another. No one is counting. Maybe you skip from wine to visit liquor. Maybe you are true blue and go with bottle after bottle of the same beer. Maybe you cheat a little on your beer with a shot or two... Naughty...

I cannot imagine not having this love affair with alcohol every now and again. What is it like to just choose to never have her in your life- especially when you've never experimented with her? Never to know the warm feeling of happiness slowly wash over you until you can feel your worries and stresses just slide right off your shoulders?

Okay, yes, you'd miss out on those rough nights where all those ladies meeting in the nightclub of your tummy start fighting it out and someone gets thrown out (er..up) but how often does that happen after your 25th birthday, really? Maybe it's the fear of loosing your inhibitions and doing or saying something stupid. That happens to me... A LOT. But usually it's funny stories like that that weave together the tapestry of my friendship with a lot of people.

I just don't get it. Do you, my sweet little Jameson bottle? No, I didn't think so....