So, I don't drink, and this is an issue that has bothered me for a very long time.
Why would something like that bother you, you might ask.
Life long it seems, I have made this choice pretty much. Don't get me wrong, I have tried, REALLY Tried.
There are a few alcoholic beverages that I like for a little while.. Maybe even to get through a whole one, but mostly I like it for say half, and then the rest I could take or leave.
When I was a teenager, of course I did what most teens do. I pushed the envelope. I hung out with the "cowboy kinda group" so beer it was.. but everyone knew my dad and thought they would be dead if anyone would have been traced to actually LETTING me have any. It was a huge game to begin with to keep me from even TOUCHING THE BOTTLE as they passed it around. Then there was that concert that we went to. I was the youngest one there, all the others in the group were of age and probably my boyfriend didn't really want anyone to know I was as young as I was if the truth be told, so the drinks just kept on coming. I honestly have no idea how we got home that night alive as we had to drive mountain roads that were normally full of elk that time of year. I don't remember most of the trip but I DO remember how awful I felt the next morning. For a long time however, the stories of that night were "epic" among the group. Laughter was all around. "Remember when we>>>>"
In my first year and a half of college I hung out with some people, (including one of my professors) who seemed to me to be very "cultured", to my 18 year old self, as they drank scotch and gin and refined whiskey. They had fun playing games with me and several other of the younger members of our group. I seemed to be the best at the game, as I could pick Chevas Regal out of the line up from a blind taste test with a great deal of accuracy, and then later I could tell you the brand name of almost any whiskey I was given from not more than 2 sips. Yep, that is how we would spend our evenings. I generally 'liked' sweeter drinks, and was told that was because of my childish pallet. Yep, as long as I played the game, they liked me. I was also available to drive people home who were in no condition to drive themselves home and check on them the next day to make sure they were still alive. That, also, kept people from asking me what was wrong with ME.. if I chose not to drink with them. For a long time however, the stories about those times were ,Epic, among that group. Laughter was all around... "Hey, remember when we>>>>>>>>"
This brings me to the later part of my college and a couple of years after. The group of people we were friends with at that time enjoyed getting together frequently. We ate really good food (well, the best that could be found on a college students budget) and good wine... and beer... (cheap wine now I know... and dark beer) That group favored Killians Red and other Irish ales which I didn't like but could get down Lowenbrau Dark. This kept people from asking me what was wrong with ME if I chose not to drink with them. To begin with at least, these were my husbands friends and (drumroll please) I really wanted them to like me... and as long as I would participate and laugh at the stories later on of 'remember when This happened.. and this person did that thing. and laugh and laugh and laugh' they did. And lets see,
During that phase, I was nearly always available to drive people home who were in no condition to drive home. I was also SUPPOSED to sympathize with them the next day when they had contracted some kind of stomach bug and were puking their guts up and had body aches and chills and just felt generally cruddy... Sherry: "mmm yeah, you don't have the flu". Others: " Well aren't YOU bitchy today. Have you no compassion at all? What's wrong with you?" Guess they really didn't like me that much.
This brings us to the next phase of my life, my family did some bonding and were members of a bowling league here in town. My mom and dad bowled on a team with some of their friends and my husband at that time and I bowled with my brother and his wife. The bowling alley had a bar kind of next door but connected so my brother and sister in law had "refreshments" while they bowled. That is when I was introduced to strawberry daiquiris. Yes, I would drink one during our bowling time... while she drank 4-5. And then we would laugh and laugh about how "everyone's game just seemed to fall apart... Something must be wrong with this ball it keeps hitting the gutter!!!!!!!! Yes, I pretty much liked it. But again.. one... and maybe 3/4s of it. Why, you might ask did you drink it then? This was my brothers wife and I kinda liked her.. and I really wanted her to like me. What generally happened was, I was available to drive people home who were in no condition to drive themselves home. But the fun part seemed to be when someone would say.. "Hey, Remember when so and so did that????????" Laughter all around and the stories go around the table.
Since that point in life I decided to just really stand up and tell people don't waste your money on stuff for me to drink, I am just fine with iced tea. But I have been told that I was wrong, I MUST like something, and continued to be challenged until I finally said here.. buy what ever flavor of wine coolers YOU like as I will be leaving 3 of them in your fridge... I have been told I was disrespectful to not drink anything at this occasion... I have been told that I was LYING (why would I?) I have been told that by choosing to NOT drink I was judging all those around me who were.
I have also generally realized that while I TELL people that there are things I like to drink...strawberry daiquiris for example I really dont mean it. I have kept the same frozen package of daiquiris mix in my freezer for now 3 year thinking.. someday I am going to make these and drink the whole pitcher myself.... ummm yeah its probably freezer burned beyond belief by now right?
Now, don't get me wrong, I am not an teetotaler. I have a bottle of Jack Daniels in my cabinet nearly all the time because sometimes there just isn't a cough medicine out there that works like a single hot toddy does to cut the crap in your throat and get you some sleep. I have even been known to keep a bottle of rum around for the occasional hot buttered rum on a cold night. The interesting thing is that I may drink one maybe 2 of those and then eat the rest of the "batter" straight out of the fridge by the spoon full.
I even found that I like a couple other things that I have been known to keep in the house to mix in with my Italian sodas, just to add to the flavor I am already making. But WHY do I do those things?
Because I'm supposed to. If I ever have anything to drink outside of home its because someone has pushed me to do it and I dont want it to be an issue so I do it. To this day.. that's the answer. Because I dont want to be laughed at or to be told I am judging those around me by my lack of joining in. Peer Pressure at MY AGE??? REALLY??
I was watching TV over the weekend and there is a commercial that Im not even sure what is for. Has to do with the new computer thingy that you can talk to.. and it being in your car... womans voice that you ask to do things for you.. The man asks for it to read him his text messages... Starts out with a friend telling him how much fun they had last night Duuuuudddeeeee..... next one asks him if he ever found his pants.... the 3d one he shuts off in the middle of it reading to him... I cant believe you got a tattoo there....... his wife/girlfriend... is just looking on at his embarrasement. But you know that these are stories that are going to be told far and wide about the fantastic time they had. Laughter abounds.
So after all these years of living life, I have realized that the biggest thing that bothers me is the camaraderie that seems to go with it .... When the stories start around a table.. and it gets to me.... All I can say is... HEY HEY GUYS... there was this time... when I stayed completely straight, and Nothing stupid happened.... and I remember it all...But its ok. I drove everyone home...... Now Everyone laugh!!!!!!!! Hummm I guess that is why I come off as judgmental. My story just isn't very funny or entertaining now is it.
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