DOTW 10/24

Barca · Post by **Barca** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:47 am

I've been reading a lot lately, and, thankfully, I've been reading a lot of my favorite young writer, Jonathan Lethem. In a collection of essays he recently published, he details a disintegrating friendship, concluding the episode with the beautiful and lyrical sentence, "Our friendship became a room we'd both abandoned." Sad, stark, and resonant.

The sentence stayed with me for days for a variety of reasons, some good and some bad, but one, I eventually realized, applied to this forum. For me, Tequila is just such a friend.

Tequila was my third of the Great Liquors. Before I ever drank Vodka or Gin, I drank bottles and bottles of unctuous amber Mexican liquid. At no point was Tequila my favorite booze, but it was more delicious straight than Rum and easier on the throat than my beloved Bourbon. Tequila was the shot of choice to entice non-drinkers, the compromise shot amongst varied serious drinkers, and the joke shot all other times. It was always there, a bit glib in delivery but never truly dishonest.

Every drinker has had his tequila night. For some, it's the one night you swore, "Never again!" For some, it's even the night you meant it. I had such a night that also involved two bottles of Champagne and a keg of Beer. I couldn't even hear the word, "Tequila," for a week without gagging, but that wasn't enough to chase me away.

Eventually, Tequila and I just drifted apart. To say the parting was amicable would be to overemphasize a moment. It's simply that one moment we were in the same room as friends and the next, the room was empty.

Now I have Tequila in an occasional unwilling shot, and a an even less frequent Margarita or Caballo. So I say, give me a minute, turn away, don't read, "Tequila....i'm sorry. I don't know why I haven't called. I never stopped caring, it's just that....i don't know... there were other drinks, and I never stopped thinking of you. I just figured you were okay on your own and if you needed me you'd call. How about we meet later and just...reconnect. Thanks."

DOTW:

Tequila
Twist of Lime
Salt (to taste)

Enjoy

GradeALiquorWhore · Post by **GradeALiquorWhore** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:08 am

That brings a tear to my eye. Not just because it is beautifully written, but because thinking of drinking tequila makes my eyes water. It also makes my nose run, my stomach lurch, and the bile back up in my throat... I once loved tequila, but it never returned the favor.

It was a doomed relationship from the start.

Shot Time · Post by **Shot Time** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:31 am

Really nice Barca--especially the part about tequila being the "compromise shot," and how everyone has their own tequila story. I for one, have mine:

One afternoon, I decided to "deplete the war chest," as Oggar would say, and I started downing tequila straight from the bottle, around 2 pm.

I woke up around 10 am the next day, to discover the following things:

1. I chucked my cell phone at my friend, who ducked, allowing it to smash against the picket fence.

2. I shaved my own head with a beard trimmer--but not all of it.

Tequila is madness. And since I'm all about the possible, I'm also all about tequila. Oh, and ordering shots of tequila is how I got my name.

MeanOldLady · Post by **MeanOldLady** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:49 pm

i'm scared of tequila. not that i buy the "tequila makes me pantsless" spiel, but the memories are too rough. actually, the memories were pleasant and of drinking in mexico, and then [scene missing] happened, and then i woke up in the back seat of my sister's car, my hair wet for some reason. apparently i threw up in it.

greygoose · Post by **greygoose** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:55 pm

I must respectfully decline on the grounds that my stomach roils at the smell of tequila. Like MOL(W), I have less-than-fun memories with this liquor. Of course, when you're in a Mexican restaurant and that's the only liquor order they understand, I've dropped my standards many times.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:17 pm

I'll do it. TONIGHT!

thirsty4beer · Post by **thirsty4beer** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:37 pm

good choice, Barca

i will have to wait 'til tomorrow to go ahead with this one, as all booze shops here are now shut. bastards.

Mother Goose · Post by **Mother Goose** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 12:09 pm

Holy shit, it's going to be a rough night.

I concur with MOL & the Goose. Lots of bad, bad tequila nights. However, I am determined to follow through with the DOTW challenge this week (at least partially), so I'm thinking I may have to buy a 1/2 pint of tequila and take a taste. I'll make Goose drink some too.

Smashley · Post by **Smashley** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:00 pm

Tequila and I have had our ups and downs but I like where we are now.

Like a childhood friend who used to beat me up time after time, I finally stood up to the challenge and continued to drink directly after a tequila-induced puking session and overpowered my foe with pure alcohol-driven determination. It must have worked because I have yet to regurgitate tequila since. We don't talk or hang out much as we used to, but occasionally we reconnect just to see how things are going...

Professor Roomie · Post by **Professor Roomie** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 5:48 pm

Well said. I would like to add that it tastes better if you lick the salt off of a beautiful woman and have her hold the lime in her mouth.

cloud8 · Post by **cloud8** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 6:33 pm

I had my "Tequilla night" and drank not a drop of the stuff for over 10 years. Then my One True Love takes me to a Mexican dive and buys pitchers of Marguaritas, telling the waiter to make them strong. I was so jazzed just sitting across from her and looking into her beautiful blue eyes, a handle of Tequilla wouldn't have had any effect. Ten years after that I still don't know if she wanted to make me uninhibited or make me pass out.

danger awesome · Post by **danger awesome** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:25 pm

It's caused me to chunder many a time...

But my fondest tequila-memory (something of a contradiction in terms..) is the time Ryan and myself went clubbing with a blind man...

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:28 pm

dead_uk wrote:It's caused me to chunder many a time...

But my fondest tequila-memory (something of a contradiction in terms..) is the time Ryan and myself went clubbing with a blind man...

1) Ryan is hot
2) I have GOT to hear this story.

Mother Goose · Post by **Mother Goose** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:02 pm

LadyRed wrote:
dead_uk wrote:It's caused me to chunder many a time...

But my fondest tequila-memory (something of a contradiction in terms..) is the time Ryan and myself went clubbing with a blind man...
1) Ryan is hot
2) I have GOT to hear this story.

I recall this story from when Dan was new to the boards. It was actually a really good, heartwarming tale. Perhaps I'll attempt to resurrect it, since I'm drunk, bored and sentimental . . .

P.S. Goose didn't buy any tequila at the candy store, so I have failed at all the D'sOTW this week. Barca, you can spank Goose if you're so inclined. It's his fault.

Mother Goose · Post by **Mother Goose** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:07 pm

I did a bit of a search but can't find Dan's story. It WAS good, though. I'm sure he'll track it down.