Thoroughly enjoyed this. SO much. I recently stopped drinking for an entire three months (from January on, gah!) because there was some nonsense going on with liver-bloodwork and they wanted to see what the figures would be like without my "daily, sustained alcohol usage." I felt like an addict but yes, it's true that I have been having 2 glasses of wine whilst making dinner for many years (all my adult life, really) and I do cherish that time. The promises of temperance (better glowy skin, more vitality etc) were all hollow with the exception of better sleeping which I must admit to. The predominant feeling though was a lingering sadness that at the end of a hard, often anxious day there was nothing to look forward to at 3:30 to 4 but fizzy water or a really good cup of tea. Sigh. Now that my three months are finished I am trying to keep my wine-time to the weekend so it is a SUPER big treat now. We will see how long this lasts lol. I love your honesty and your indignation - it is awesome xo PS Also "orthopaedic shoe era" is classic, so good and relatable.
Loved this--thank you. Sitting still with a beverage can feel so sustaining, one of the real true pleasures available as the world burns. Sometimes coffee or a mocktail, but better when, as after I went protesting yesterday, it's a glass of wine at the end of a what felt like another hectic, cobbled-together day; and while sipping I thought of this essay.
Thanks also for the recommendation of the Ada Calhoun novel. I spotted it among the library's Quick Picks and breezed through it!
Current fave: Komasu gin (Japanese, made with tangerines) plus Clearly Canadian Mountain Blackberry sparkling water with a little crushed mint and a twist of lime. Cheers!
I rediscovered my ancestral drink of choice- top shelf Kentucky bourbon when the pandemic was hitting hard. Two fingers neat in a glass or made myself a whisky sour once a week. Perimenopause hit HARD and I had to quit.
But I am now post menopausal and am missing my Saturday evenings of sad old school country music and my bourbon treat. It was just enough self indulgence into my sorrow of life moments, and I’ve never been a big drinker anyway. It mellowed me out, gave me permission to mourn or be sad, and to listen to music that hits me hard. There’s something to be said for being human, and enjoying the ability to feel. The “beautiful sadness”’as I have heard it referred to. I never wanted to go numb- too many alcoholics in the family lines to go there. Plus I get hangover times a hundred and that is motivation plenty to simply enjoy.
My goal is to get a hold of some super expensive bourbon- like Pappi Van Winkle, hide it away, and take it out to celebrate only 2 things-1.) Publishing a book I am proud of that gets a decent response 2.) When the US returns to democracy and pulls its head out of its ass and certain people are tried for their crimes against humanity, corruption, etc. That
Cheers. Sounds lovely. I hate those ‘cleansing’ suggestions. No joy in that. And at the end of it we are still just who we are.
I have high blood pressure and initially I gave up everything so I didn’t need to use meds including coffee. I lost weight and felt physically well but was mentally distressed. Life was so rigid.
I so feel this. Since the day of my mother's myriad falls (to the floor, from kindness, from her home, etc, etc, etc...) I have indulged in or treated myself to the glass of wine at days end. And I've been beating myself up about it. I feel bad about myself when I look forward to wine at the end of the day. If anything feels like a crutch, I worry. And yes, booze has been linked to sadness and overwhelm in my mind. I want to go back to a glass as a pleasure, a way to laugh and relax with pals rather than a balm from all the disasters of the present days.
Thank you for this. And, I'm going to pick up Crush. xN
Thoroughly enjoyed this. SO much. I recently stopped drinking for an entire three months (from January on, gah!) because there was some nonsense going on with liver-bloodwork and they wanted to see what the figures would be like without my "daily, sustained alcohol usage." I felt like an addict but yes, it's true that I have been having 2 glasses of wine whilst making dinner for many years (all my adult life, really) and I do cherish that time. The promises of temperance (better glowy skin, more vitality etc) were all hollow with the exception of better sleeping which I must admit to. The predominant feeling though was a lingering sadness that at the end of a hard, often anxious day there was nothing to look forward to at 3:30 to 4 but fizzy water or a really good cup of tea. Sigh. Now that my three months are finished I am trying to keep my wine-time to the weekend so it is a SUPER big treat now. We will see how long this lasts lol. I love your honesty and your indignation - it is awesome xo PS Also "orthopaedic shoe era" is classic, so good and relatable.
Love this. Love Love Love this. Same. Add some greenery to the mix and we got a party! 💗
Adored this piece 💕
Loved this--thank you. Sitting still with a beverage can feel so sustaining, one of the real true pleasures available as the world burns. Sometimes coffee or a mocktail, but better when, as after I went protesting yesterday, it's a glass of wine at the end of a what felt like another hectic, cobbled-together day; and while sipping I thought of this essay.
Thanks also for the recommendation of the Ada Calhoun novel. I spotted it among the library's Quick Picks and breezed through it!
Hard agree to all this—orthopedic hive arise + shine ✨🥂🙌
Current fave: Komasu gin (Japanese, made with tangerines) plus Clearly Canadian Mountain Blackberry sparkling water with a little crushed mint and a twist of lime. Cheers!
omg that sounds amazing! Gin is about the only thing I'll leave the wine for.
I rediscovered my ancestral drink of choice- top shelf Kentucky bourbon when the pandemic was hitting hard. Two fingers neat in a glass or made myself a whisky sour once a week. Perimenopause hit HARD and I had to quit.
But I am now post menopausal and am missing my Saturday evenings of sad old school country music and my bourbon treat. It was just enough self indulgence into my sorrow of life moments, and I’ve never been a big drinker anyway. It mellowed me out, gave me permission to mourn or be sad, and to listen to music that hits me hard. There’s something to be said for being human, and enjoying the ability to feel. The “beautiful sadness”’as I have heard it referred to. I never wanted to go numb- too many alcoholics in the family lines to go there. Plus I get hangover times a hundred and that is motivation plenty to simply enjoy.
My goal is to get a hold of some super expensive bourbon- like Pappi Van Winkle, hide it away, and take it out to celebrate only 2 things-1.) Publishing a book I am proud of that gets a decent response 2.) When the US returns to democracy and pulls its head out of its ass and certain people are tried for their crimes against humanity, corruption, etc. That
Cheers. Sounds lovely. I hate those ‘cleansing’ suggestions. No joy in that. And at the end of it we are still just who we are.
I have high blood pressure and initially I gave up everything so I didn’t need to use meds including coffee. I lost weight and felt physically well but was mentally distressed. Life was so rigid.
I so feel this. Since the day of my mother's myriad falls (to the floor, from kindness, from her home, etc, etc, etc...) I have indulged in or treated myself to the glass of wine at days end. And I've been beating myself up about it. I feel bad about myself when I look forward to wine at the end of the day. If anything feels like a crutch, I worry. And yes, booze has been linked to sadness and overwhelm in my mind. I want to go back to a glass as a pleasure, a way to laugh and relax with pals rather than a balm from all the disasters of the present days.
Thank you for this. And, I'm going to pick up Crush. xN
Same. Cheers!
Lovely writing as always. And Crush! So good. ❤️
Same girl.
Yes yes, same same. Cheers🍷