The other day I was doing some shopping at a local grocery store and upon check-out I found myself observing the woman in front of me in line. At first, I was marveling after her mild mannered and well behaved child sitting calmly in the front "child designated" area of the cart -- completely envious -- while mine was screaming "No Mommy, I want M's", falling out on the floor in a complete tantrum while I threw my few necessities on the belt.
Note: M's are aka M & M's. Another great habit she picked up from her mother who mistakenly gave her some out of desperation one day.
After giving into the terror and things calmed down quite nicely, I noticed her handing the clerk a nice cloth carry bag that was filled with 5 bottles of wine. Now, my observation wouldn't have gone this deep had the clerk not needed to do a price check on two of the five bottles prolonging what was sure to be the end of the world if my kid ran out of M's. Anyhow... I got to thinking.
This woman, this mother, can seemingly purchase 5 bottles of wine on her weekly shopping trip, ON A MONDAY, and rightfully so receive no oogly eyes or no judgement from me. What kind of response do you think I'd get strolling up to the check-out lane with my crazy side-kick in tow as well as 5 bottles of flavored vodka? Other than the cute cloth bag that's not provided when you purchase excessive amounts of vodka, what's the difference folks?!?!?
Social acceptability. Cost. Appearance.
That's the difference. Somehow society has made it acceptable for us to "wind down" each evening with a glass of wine and no mention ever made of the good "hard stuff". Funny thing is, the "hard stuff" has the same alcohol content as a glass of wine. 5 oz. of wine = 1.5 oz of distilled liquor. Not so "hard" anymore, huh?
When I went to a rare dinner out, oops I mean "book club" meeting, with two of my girlfriends that night, I watched them both order wine and have two (okay maybe three) glasses. Now, if I wasn't pregnant, I would've ordered vodka cocktails proudly and wouldn't think twice about it. I asked one of my friends later, "When the hell did you start drinking wine?" To which her response was simply, it's cheaper. At least she's honest because I know she' d much prefer a skinny bitch (vodka and diet coke) or a martini. However, it sprung a conversation between us about what I had encountered earlier at the grocery store and asked her take on it. She agreed with me. If you're having people over or a dinner party, at our age (30), it's much more socially acceptable to have a few bottles of wine lining your counter tops instead of various Stoli's. It makes us appear as sophisticated and not like we're still living our early 20's catching dollar well vodka drinks before 11 at the bar.
Why is this people?!?! If that woman in the grocery store is buying 5 bottles on her weekly trip the store, one can only assume they are throwing back a bottle a night which would equate to my husband and I each consuming two-three cocktails a piece. If we're all honest, isn't the end result all the same? We want a buzz, damnit! Life's a bitch -- we need a release -- even if it's through booze allowing us to live our fantasy's through denial! I don't care what you drink, just go to your happy place.
As I pay the clerk at the grocery store and head on my way with no M & M's remaining and a chocolate smile from ear to ear staring back at me it hits me like a ton of bricks --- those 5 bottles of wine are THE reason why that woman was so relaxed and her kid so well behaved.
Cheers to you and your choice of beverage! However at your next dinner party remember, I prefer vodka. Thank you.
Note: M's are aka M & M's. Another great habit she picked up from her mother who mistakenly gave her some out of desperation one day.
After giving into the terror and things calmed down quite nicely, I noticed her handing the clerk a nice cloth carry bag that was filled with 5 bottles of wine. Now, my observation wouldn't have gone this deep had the clerk not needed to do a price check on two of the five bottles prolonging what was sure to be the end of the world if my kid ran out of M's. Anyhow... I got to thinking.
This woman, this mother, can seemingly purchase 5 bottles of wine on her weekly shopping trip, ON A MONDAY, and rightfully so receive no oogly eyes or no judgement from me. What kind of response do you think I'd get strolling up to the check-out lane with my crazy side-kick in tow as well as 5 bottles of flavored vodka? Other than the cute cloth bag that's not provided when you purchase excessive amounts of vodka, what's the difference folks?!?!?
Social acceptability. Cost. Appearance.
That's the difference. Somehow society has made it acceptable for us to "wind down" each evening with a glass of wine and no mention ever made of the good "hard stuff". Funny thing is, the "hard stuff" has the same alcohol content as a glass of wine. 5 oz. of wine = 1.5 oz of distilled liquor. Not so "hard" anymore, huh?
When I went to a rare dinner out, oops I mean "book club" meeting, with two of my girlfriends that night, I watched them both order wine and have two (okay maybe three) glasses. Now, if I wasn't pregnant, I would've ordered vodka cocktails proudly and wouldn't think twice about it. I asked one of my friends later, "When the hell did you start drinking wine?" To which her response was simply, it's cheaper. At least she's honest because I know she' d much prefer a skinny bitch (vodka and diet coke) or a martini. However, it sprung a conversation between us about what I had encountered earlier at the grocery store and asked her take on it. She agreed with me. If you're having people over or a dinner party, at our age (30), it's much more socially acceptable to have a few bottles of wine lining your counter tops instead of various Stoli's. It makes us appear as sophisticated and not like we're still living our early 20's catching dollar well vodka drinks before 11 at the bar.
Why is this people?!?! If that woman in the grocery store is buying 5 bottles on her weekly trip the store, one can only assume they are throwing back a bottle a night which would equate to my husband and I each consuming two-three cocktails a piece. If we're all honest, isn't the end result all the same? We want a buzz, damnit! Life's a bitch -- we need a release -- even if it's through booze allowing us to live our fantasy's through denial! I don't care what you drink, just go to your happy place.
As I pay the clerk at the grocery store and head on my way with no M & M's remaining and a chocolate smile from ear to ear staring back at me it hits me like a ton of bricks --- those 5 bottles of wine are THE reason why that woman was so relaxed and her kid so well behaved.
Cheers to you and your choice of beverage! However at your next dinner party remember, I prefer vodka. Thank you.
RSS Feed