The Elixer of Life

Beer.

How I love thee.

It's kinda funny how my love affair with beer came to pass. Most of us had our first taste in high school. Well I did too and let's say the smell alone made me gag. I would sit around that table in my old house and watch everyone playing quarters and think "Man! How can they drink that stuff! Yuck!"

When I finally reached that magic age of 21 (Ok maybe 20 with a fake ID), I'd watch those same friends buy beers for 50 cents and think, "Nasty! But oh so affordable" as I sat sipping my 4 dollar rum and coke.

Can you see where this is heading?

I started drinking beer because I was too cheap to spend my hard earned money on liquor. 20 bucks versus 5 for a night out with the girls? When there was a new shirt at The Limited I just had to have? No brainer. I joined the beer drinking club lickidy split.

And I've never looked back. While I still enjoy a good mixed drink now and then, beer has become my beverage of choice. I love it on a hot day, I love it on a cold day...especially if there is tailgating involved. Nothing goes together quite like beer and football.

My love affair with beer took a much more serious turn when I started traveling to drink it. Who knew there was such a thing in Portland, Oregon known as the Holiday Ale Fest? Christmas and Beer...together? Where do I sign up?

And Oktoberfest...at Epcot Center at Disney? Wait...beer and Mickey Mouse? Was this for real? It may look like Germany, but trust me...this is Orlando.

And then of course...the mack daddy trip. The beer fest to end all beer fests...Oktoberfest in Munich Germany.

Yup. I traveled over 3,000 miles and crossed an ocean to drink beer.

I say this not because I'm an alcoholic. In fact, before football started this Fall, I hadn't had a beer in over 6 months. (Except when I go home to Florida to visit the family...I come from a long line of beer drinkers!)

But I truly love the taste...it's an acquired one, I know and some people never get it. But there is nothing in this world that relaxes me like the sound of that top twisting off.

And if I drink that beer in a bathtub full of bubbles...
Well that's even better!